CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System - LiveWell

Could It Be Bladder Cancer? Approximately half of bladder cancers are considered non-invasive when doctors diagnose them, so they have not had the chance to spread beyond the bladder wall. These cancers are easiest to treat when diagnosed early, so knowing the warning signs is important. Are You At Risk? Factors that increase the risk of developing bladder cancer include: Age — Bladder cancer is not usually found in men or•women younger than 40. Chemical exposure — Poisons such as arsenic or•manufacturing chemicals may compromise the function of kidneys, increasing the likelihood of these dangerous chemicals entering the bladder via the bloodstream. Consumption of diabetes medication — Taking•certain medications including pioglitazone and metformin for more than a year may increase risk. Frequent bladder inflammation — Chronic•infections of the bladder or other irritation may lead to bladder cancer. Smoking — Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco may cause the accumulation of damaging chemicals in the bladder, irritating the lining and damaging the cells. If you notice any of the symptoms listed below, talk with your doctor: • Di˜culty urinating • Lower back pain on the right or left side of the•spine • Pain when urinating • Unusually frequent urination • Urinary urgency CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center now uses Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview® technology to target hard-to-detect bladder cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 76,960 individuals in the U.S. will be diagnosed with bladder cancer during 2016. The cancer is more likely to a—ect men than women, and the condition typically develops in people older than 55. NEXT‹GENERATION SOLUTIONS While completing some training at Vanderbilt University, Ian Thompson III, M.D., M.B.A., associate chief medical o«cer at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical"Center, had the opportunity to utilize one of the latest technologies to detect bladder tumors that may be di«cult to find in patients with existing bladder cancer"— Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview. The only FDA-approved technology for this type of bladder cancer treatment, Cysview helps physicians find tumors early — when they are easiest to treat. Today,"Dr."Thompson puts his training into practice, o—ering patients a sophisticated, cutting-edge diagnostic option that has not been used anywhere else in San Antonio. Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview works as a complement to traditional white light cystoscopy, in which a physician investigates the bladder with an endoscope and a standard white light. This technology helps the medical team detect cancers that have developed towards the center of the bladder but haven't spread through the layers of the bladder walls. With this new technique, Cysview imaging agent is injected into the patient's bladder using a catheter about an hour before a cystoscopy. Any tumors soak up this agent, which makes them more visible and easy to target under blue light. This method helps doctors identify and treat tumors more precisely in the earliest stages of disease — when fast action can save lives. "This technology o—ers unparalleled peace of mind that we have a clear understanding of the existence and location of tumors," Dr. Thompson says. "We are the only place in town o—ering this solution to patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. Our team — which includes Dharam Kaushik, M.D., and Robert Svatek, M.D., experts in bladder cancer treatment — is able to judge the extent of required resections more accurately and make sure we're not leaving anything behind." ✚ For more information about cancer specialists with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center, please call (877) 250-DOCS or go to findachristusdoc.org. SHINING A‚LIGHT ON BETTER Cancer Treatment christussantarosa.org | Summer 2016 christussantarosa.org | Summer 2016 CANCER CARE 8

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