subject: Bladder Cancer And Diabetes Treatment [print this page] Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer among men and the ninth most common among women. Each year there are around 67,000 new diagnosis made in the United States, the disease affecting mostly patients older than 50.
Studies show an increasing number of cases among women, a worrying situation considering that women are more likely to dismiss the symptoms of the condition and by the time they are diagnosed the cancer is in an advanced stage. The most common symptom of the condition is the presence of blood in the urine, which can be visible with the naked eye or not. Other symptoms include low back pain, frequent urge to urinate, pain when urinating and urinary tract infections which do not respond to antibiotics. The condition can be easily confused especially in the early stages with cystitis, urinary tract infections and the symptoms of menopause.
Bladder cancer can be treated with different methods, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biologic therapy or immunotherapy, consisting in boosting the patients own immune system to fight cancer cells. However the outcome mostly depends on the stage of the cancer at the moment of diagnose.
Cancer generally and bladder cancer particularly can be caused by a series of factors, one of them recently discovered. Actos is a prescription drug used to treat type II diabetes. According to an official warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011, the long term use of Actos increases the risk of bladder cancer with up to 40%. Because of this problem the medication has been withdrawn from some European markets, but it is still available in the U.S. with some restrictions.
Patients who currently suffer from bladder cancer or who have a history of bladder cancer should not take the medication. Patients who are already on treatment should pay attention to possible symptoms of the condition and contact a doctor immediately when worrying signs appear. Patients who have been already diagnosed with bladder cancer can contact an Actos injury lawyer to discuss about the possibility of financial compensation. If there is evidence to support that the drug was indeed the cause of the condition they will be eligible for compensations.
