July 17 is bladder cancer awareness day. We want to do our part to spread information about this condition, which affects so many people. We’ve compiled a list of the most relevant articles on the topic. You will find information on bladder cancer treatment, hypothyroidism, and multiple myeloma, all of which play a part in the development of bladder cancer.
Deadly parasite used to treat bladder cancer
When asked what the deadliest animal in the world is, you would not immediately think of the mosquito, but it is. While these tiny insects may not seem very dangerous, it is not their size that makes them deadly, but the disease they carry. Malaria is one of many mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans and is caused by a parasite. In 2015, an estimated 438,000 deaths were attributed to the disease that infects millions every year. However, some of the most talented researchers and scientists have created a drug from the malaria parasite to help treat another deadly disease, bladder cancer. Continue reading…
Bladder cancer treatment through new FDA-approved drug
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The FDA has just approved a new bladder cancer drug known as Tecentriq (atezolizumab), which is intended to treat the most common type of bladder cancer. This is the first drug in its class to be approved to treat bladder cancer. Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the office of hematology and oncology products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a news release, “Tecentriq provides these patients with a new therapy targeting the PD-L1 pathway. Products that block PD-1/PD-L1 interactions are part of an evolving story about the relationship between the body’s immune system and its interaction with cancer cells.”
The drug was approved for use in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma whose disease has worsened during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or within 12 months of receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy, either before or after surgery. Continue reading…
Research Suggests a New Way to Detect Bladder Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013, there will be approximately 72,570 new cases of bladder cancer detected in the United States, and about 15,210 deaths occurring from bladder cancer during this time. Researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Institute have found that over 70 percent of bladder cancer tumors display somatic mutations in the TERT gene. This discovery could lead to better detection rates as well as new treatment options for bladder cancer patients, which has the potential to lower the number of new bladder cancer cases and death rates. Continue reading…
Hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, and multiple myeloma linked to Agent Orange herbicide exposure: Study
Hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, and multiple myeloma have been linked to Agent Orange herbicide exposure. On the other hand, the new findings do not support that spina bifida, a birth defect, may occur in offspring of veterans who served during the Vietnam War and were exposed to Agent Orange.
The report is 1,115 pages long and outlines health complications associated with exposure to Agent Orange, along with other herbicides during the Vietnam War. The findings of the link between bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and Agent Orange came from a large study of Korean War veterans who also served during the Vietnam War. On the other hand, spina bifida factor was downgraded, as there was not enough supporting evidence that Agent Orange increased the risk of spina bifida. Continue reading…
Sedentary lifestyle may increase your risk of cancer
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We often think that cancer is the direct result of having bad habits such as smoking or drinking too much. While this is true to a certain degree, a new study has found that simply being a couch potato increases your risk of kidney and bladder cancer, regardless of whether or not you are obese.
It can be hard to stay active during our busy lives, with inactivity only increasing as we get older. A lack of physical activity is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and other conditions, but most people don’t know that it increases cancer risk.
The researchers of this study hope their findings will help motivate inactive people to engage in some form of physical activity throughout their lives. Continue reading…
