The American Most cancers Society estimates that over 20,000 girls in the US might be identified with bladder most cancers in 2024. Whereas bladder most cancers occurs much less typically in girls than in males, girls usually tend to have superior phases and decrease survival charges. Bladder most cancers can be extra more likely to occur in your later years — about 9 out of 10 persons are over the age of 55.
Provided that your bladder is near your reproductive organs, you might marvel how these organs may be affected in case you have bladder most cancers.
HealthyWomen spoke with two specialists to get solutions to essentially the most incessantly requested questions on caring for your reproductive well being when you’ve gotten bladder most cancers.
Lee A. Richter, M.D., is a board-certified urologist and affiliate professor of each urology and obstetrics and gynecology at Georgetown College Faculty of Drugs. Melissa Donohue, DSW, is a licensed medical social employee and licensed intercourse therapist.
Can bladder most cancers unfold to my reproductive organs?
You probably have bladder most cancers, it means most cancers cells are current within the bladder. More often than not, the most cancers stays contained in the bladder, however in some situations, it leaves the liner of the bladder and spreads into or outdoors the muscle. This is called muscle-invasive bladder most cancers. And it’s uncommon, however doable, that this most cancers can unfold to your reproductive organs.
Does being in menopause improve my threat of bladder most cancers?
There’s some proof that appears to counsel that the danger of bladder most cancers goes up when menopause occurs at an early age, however the information isn’t robust sufficient to say for certain. There additionally isn’t sufficient proof to point out that hormones, like estrogen, trigger bladder most cancers.
Nonetheless, your possibilities of having bladder most cancers improve with age. Menopause is a hormonal change, so despite the fact that there isn’t sufficient proof to say menopause will increase the danger, people who find themselves postmenopausal are at greater threat for bladder most cancers in comparison with premenopausal individuals.
Can being in perimenopause or menopause make it more durable to get a analysis?
Blood within the urine is a serious symptom of bladder most cancers. So, should you’re in perimenopause and nonetheless getting durations, it could be laborious to inform the place the blood is coming from. Being in menopause additionally will increase your threat of getting UTIs (due to decrease estrogen ranges), and UTIs are one more reason for having blood in your urine. Your healthcare supplier (HCP) could wish to ensure that the blood just isn’t from one among these different causes earlier than screening for most cancers.
However, whereas your HCP is following their protocols for trying out blood within the urine, bladder most cancers may unfold and be extra superior by the point it’s caught.
Should you’re examined for a UTI and get a adverse outcome, it’s necessary to comply with up along with your HCP to see what’s inflicting blood in your urine. Bladder most cancers and UTIs also can occur on the similar time, so if you’re identified with a UTI and suspect one thing else is fallacious, it’s OK to request additional testing.
Learn: For Almost a 12 months, Docs Dismissed My Bladder Most cancers Signs as UTIs >>
Can I stay on contraception throughout most cancers therapy?
You possibly can proceed utilizing each hormonal and nonhormonal contraception even in case you have bladder most cancers. Bladder most cancers doesn’t use hormones to develop and unfold, so hormonal contraception, such because the capsule or a hormonal intrauterine machine (IUD), is protected to make use of. Non-hormonal contraception strategies, such because the copper IUD, spermicide and condoms, are additionally protected.
Will bladder most cancers therapy have an effect on my fertility?
As a result of bladder most cancers not often impacts the reproductive organs, bladder most cancers therapy doesn’t normally contain eradicating the uterus or ovaries. There’s a process known as a genital-sparing cystectomy, which removes the bladder, however leaves the uterus and ovaries in place.
There’s a sort of remedy often known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which is chemotherapy that’s given earlier than a cystectomy surgical procedure to scale back and management most cancers dimension and unfold earlier than the surgeon removes the most cancers and bladder.
If you need to have this kind of chemo, you received’t be capable to develop into pregnant sooner or later and may develop menopausal signs akin to scorching flashes or vaginal dryness.
How can bladder most cancers therapy have an effect on my intercourse life?
Chemotherapy could cause vaginal dryness, which may result in irritation. It might additionally trigger mouth sores, making kissing and intimacy harder. You additionally would possibly really feel nausea or fatigue, which may make it laborious to wish to have intercourse.
Bladder surgical procedure may also depart you with a urostomy bag, which is a pouch that collects urine outdoors your physique. For some individuals, this may make them really feel self-conscious with their accomplice. Generally, a part of the vagina must be eliminated and this may shorten or slender the vaginal canal, making intercourse uncomfortable, harder, or in some circumstances, inconceivable.
Communication, endurance and compassion are key elements for each couple. It might assist to create new patterns, discover your new regular, and redefine what intercourse is to you and your accomplice.
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Bladder Most cancers Advocacy Community
This academic useful resource was created with help from Astellas and Pfizer.
