Bladder Cancer Medications for Symptom Management

 

Pain Medications to Help With Bladder Cancer

🔶 Acetaminophen / Tylenol 1000mg every 8 hours: over the counter, and helps with pain, muscle aches, and fevers. Don't ever take more than 4 grams in 24 hours. This can be taken every 8 hours. This is also often in narcotics. Make sure you are adding up the TOTAL Tylenol usage for the day. Tylenol is processed in your liver, so can be taken at the same time as Ibuprofen.

🔶 Ibuprofen / Advil / Motrin 600 mg every 6-8 hours:  over the counter, and helps with pain, muscle aches, inflammation, and fevers. This can be taken every 6-8 hours. Ibuprofen is processed in the kidneys, thus it's okay to take Tylenol at the same time (Tylenol is processed in the liver). Make sure you are drinking enough water to not stress your kidneys. Ibuprofen can cause irritation and bleeding in your stomach. Ibuprofen is classified as an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). DO NOT COMBINE WITH ASPRIN!

🔶 Cannabis / Marijuana, oil or gummy, aprox. 10mg THC: Lots of people use this for the pain or nausea caused by cancer treatments, including BCG. Cannabis can also can help with the anxiety related to all of these painful experiences. If you use an edible (gummies, brownies, oil put under the tongue),  you have to remember it takes 1-2 hours for it to take effect.The total time that it will be in your system is 12 hours from the time you take it. Smoking it will get you high and out of pain/nausea faster, but it will leave you much faster as well. You'll want to make sure that whatever you get has THC in it.  you can start around 10mg. The THC is what will help you relax and what will take the pain away. However, CBD and CBG are also fantastic! They take away inflammation as well!! Great for pain management. If you live in a country and state in which you can get this, you should! I was shocked how much it has helped my urinary pain/urgency/frequency on bad BCG days and after the TURBT. It did so much better than a narcotic that I was prescribed. 

🔶 Aspirin / Acetylsalicylic Acid / Bayer / 500mg every 6 hours : over the counter, and helps with pain, muscle aches, inflammation, and fevers. Aspirin is processed in the kidneys, thus it's okay to take Tylenol at the same time (Tylenol is processed in the liver). Make sure you are drinking enough water to not stress your kidneys. Aspirin can cause irritation and bleeding in your stomach. Aspirin is classified as an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). DO NOT COMBINE WITH IBUPROFEN!

🔶 Narcotics / Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab) / Oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan): These are all serious pain killers. You will get them after surgery if you need them. I found that I needed one pill prescribed for BCG #12. It's about a 4-6 hour window that the pain is just intolerable, right after you void the BCG out. What is interesting, is I found that narcotics don't really do much for bladder pain. I didn't ask for this again. The cannabis did much better for me.

🔶 AZO / Pyridium / Phenazopyridine / Prodium / Pyridate / Baridium / Uricalm / Urodine / UTI Relief:a medication that works as a painkiller to sooth the lining of the urinary tract. It helps relieve pain, urgency, and frequency when urinating. It will turn your urine orange while it's in your system. This is totally normal. 😊 It does stain underwear permanently, so get some undies you can throw away. You can get this over the counter, however I highly recommend you get your doctor to order it. 200mg dose of pyridium. I'm grateful for this dose, and this medication. It really helps.

🔶 Anti-Anxiety : There can develop some real anxiety around tests, procedures and treatments. Lots of these things are painful, and so we develop anxiety about them, often making the pain even worse. So take that anxiety medication! Let someone else drive you to the appointment. 💗

Overactive Bladder or Bladder Spasm Medications

These are medications that help with bladder spasms or overactive bladder. This can help after BCG therapy and after a TURBT. The ER or XL stands for extended release. It makes it so you take the medication once a day, and it release  that medicine throughout the day.

🔶 Toterodine / Detrol 

🔶 Oxybutynin (oxy-BYOO-ti-nin) / Oxybutynin ER / Ditropan XL - This is the medication that I take. It greatly helps with bladder spasms and urinary urgency and frequency.

🔶 Trospium / Sanctura

🔶  Solifenacin / Vesicare

🔶 Darifenacin / Enablex

🔶 Fesoterodine / Toviaz

🔶 Mirabegron / Myrbetriq

Bladder Cancer Tests - Definitions and Abbreviations

 

🔶 CT / Cat Scan / Computerized Tomography : CAT scan is what most people call it.  A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines hundreds of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images (slices) of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside your body. CT scan images provide more-detailed information than plain X-rays do. When you see a CT machine, you will see a large machine that has a bed going through a small tube. When you get the scan, you will lie down on the bed, and it moves back and forth.

 

🔶 CT With and Without Contrast: CT scans may be done with or without "contrast." Contrast refers to a substance taken by mouth or injected into an intravenous (IV) line that causes the particular organ or tissue under study to be seen more clearly, or looks like it lights up when looking at the X-rays from the CT. Having a CT scan with contrast will sometimes allow a 3D image to be created. IV contrast, often an iodine contrast solution, can be very hard on your kidneys. Be sure to have your kidney function tested before getting a CT scan. 

 

🔶 CT Urogram : CT scan specifically for the urinary system. This is often done with contract and without contrast.  

 

🔶 Cystography (sist-o-gra-fee) / Cystourethrography (sist-o-ur-eth-rah-gra-fee) / Voiding Cystourethrography / CT Cystography: This test is more unusual for bladder cancer, but might be used for other urinary issues related to bladder cancer and treatments. Cystography is an imaging test that can help diagnose problems in your bladder. It uses X-rays. They may be X-ray pictures or fluoroscopy, a kind of X-ray "movie." During cystography, the healthcare provider will insert a thin tube called a urinary catheter that goes into your urethra, and inject contrast dye into your bladder. The contrast dye will let the healthcare provider see your bladder more clearly. He or she will take X-rays of the bladder. Cystography is sometimes combined with other procedures. For example, cystourethrography images the bladder and the urethra. The healthcare provider may also use fluoroscopy to watch how the bladder empties while you urinate (voiding cystourethrography). Cystography may show whether any urine backs up into the kidneys (vesicoureteral reflux). CT (cat scan) cystography is sometimes used following trauma or recent surgery.

 

🔶 Cystoscopy (sis-TOS-kuh-pee) / Scope / Cysto / Cystoscope / Rigid Cystoscope / Flexible Cystoscope:  A cystoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the lining of your bladder and the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of your body). Some people will call it for short a scope or a cysto. A hollow plastic tube, called a cystoscope is equipped with a camera and light, and is inserted into your urethra and slowly advanced into your bladder. This is the gold standard test for ruling out bladder cancer. This can be done in the doctor's office with numbing gel, using a flexible cystoscope, which is much smaller than the one they use for surgery. Under general anesthesia (when you are put to sleep during surgery) they use a rigid cystoscope, which is much larger and painful, thus the need for general anesthesia.  If you are getting treatment for bladder cancer, buckle up and get used to these. For the first two years, you will get them every 3 months, then 6 months, then yearly. 

 

🔶 Imaging : Tests that produce pictures of areas inside the body. 

 

🔶 MRI / Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MRI's will also be used in diagnosing and treating bladder cancer. A MRI is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of your body. The machine contains powerful magnets, so you will not be allowed to wear any metal when getting a scan. MRI's are non-invasive. When you see a MRI machine, you will see a large machine that has a bed going through a long tube. When you get the scan, you will lie down on the bed, and it moves inside the long tube. Once in position, you will stay in that spot for quite a long time, being asked not to move generally. That can be from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. During that time you will hear a series of repetitive sounds. MRI's are especially good tests for soft tissues. 

 

🔶 PET Scan / Positron Emission Tomography : uses tracers (radioactive drug) to show normal and abnormal metabolic activity. That's a fancy way of saying that it will find really fast growing cells - like cancer. When looking at the images, these cells would light up. It can also help identify heart disease and brain disorders. PET scans must be interpreted carefully because noncancerous conditions can look like cancer, and some cancers do not appear on PET scans.

 

🔶 Utrasound / Sonogram / Ultrasonogram : A computer picture of areas inside the body created by bouncing sound waves off organs and other tissues. It can be useful in determining the size of a bladder cancer and whether it has spread beyond the bladder to nearby organs or tissues. It can also be used to look at the kidneys. This is usually an easy test to have, and it uses no radiation.

 

🔶 Pyelogram (PIE-uh-low-gram) / Intravenous Pyelogram / IVP / Excretory Urogram: an intravenous pyelogram, is an X-ray exam of your urinary tract. These are often used to diagnose kidney stones, bladder stones, enlarged prostate, kidney cysts, or urinary tract tumors. During this exam you will have X-ray dye (iodine contrast solution) injected into a vein in your arm.
For an intravenous pyelogram, you lie on your back on an exam table. The X-ray machine usually is either attached to or part of the table. An X-ray image intensifier — the part of the machine that obtains the images — is positioned over your abdomen. X-rays are taken before the contrast, and then the dye is injected and more images are taken at specifically timed intervals. Toward the end of the exam you may be asked to go to the bathroom and urinate. Then you return to the exam table, so that the health care team can get an X-ray of your empty bladder.

 

🔶  Urinalysis (Ur-i-nal-i-sis) / UA / Urine Dip / Urine Dipstick Test: Urinalysis is a urine sample that is looked at under a microscope. Sometimes this sample can also also be taken in the doctors office, and that is called a urine dipstick test. They will use small testing strips that can tell them quickly information about your urine including if there is any blood in the sample, or if there are white blood cells in the sample (meaning you have an infection in your urinary tract, or UTI). The sample can be taken with just washing off your genitals before urinating in a cup. It can also be taken when there is a catheter or scope inside your bladder. 

 

🔶 Urine Cytology : Urine cytology is a test to look for abnormal cells in your urine. It's used with other tests and procedures to diagnose urinary tract cancers, most often bladder cancer. Your doctor might recommend a urine cytology test if you have blood in your urine (hematuria). These tests will often be ordered when you get a cystoscopy.

Bladder Cancer Signs, Symptoms, and Side Effects from Treatments - Definitions and Abbreviations

 

 🔶 Acute Urinary Retention: This is an emergency! It's when suddenly you are not able to urinate. Most of the time its because the bladder or urethra cannot let the urine pass. This can be from trauma to the bladder (making in able to contract and press the urine out) or trauma to the urethra (it swells up and clamps shut). A blood clot, sloughing from a wound in your bladder, or piece of tumor can also block the way. This can also happen after you have BCG (it's quite rare). I had an experience with this. Click here to read more.

 

🔶  Anemia: a condition that happens when you don't have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in your blood. In bladder cancer, that would usually mean that is happening because of long term bleeding. This will result in weakness, and pallor or unhealthy pale appearance. This can be a sign of bladder cancer.  

 

 🔶  Bladder Spasms (medical term is detrusor contraction) / Overactive Bladder: this is when your bladder squeezes or contracts uncontrollably, suddenly without warning, causing an urgent need to release urine. This can cause frequent and urgent need to urinate. The spasm can force urine from the bladder, causing leakage. These can be so intense and painful, it can feel like a uterine contraction (if you are female and have experienced that before), and can last seconds to 10 minutes or more. There are medications that can help with this. This can be a sign of bladder cancer.

 

 🔶 Chronic Urinary Retention: This is when you can't empty your bladder all the way, but you can usually still get some urine through. It's very uncomfortable, and it's persistent. This can be a sign of having bladder cancer.  

  

🔶 Continence / Incontinence: Continence is the ability to control the flow of urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. You can usually control urination due to muscular structures called sphincters, which wrap around the base of the bladder and urethra. Additionally, if the bladder is damaged, then the bladder cannot contract properly to help expel the urine from the body. Removal of or damage to the urinary sphincters or the bladder, can result in an inability to control the flow of urine normally. That is what incontinence is. It's when you don't have control of urinating, and you wet yourself.

 

🔶 Cystitis: cystis means bladder, and itis means inflammation. So cystitis means inflammation of the bladder. BCG, UTI's, chemo, surgery and other bladder cancer treatments can cause this. Severe cystitis can make it so the bladder won't contract and push urine out any longer, meaning you can't urinate. If this is ever the case, it's an emergency, and you need immediate care. Chronic, or long term cystitis might be a sign of bladder cancer. 

 

🔶 Flank Pain / Lower Back Pain: this is the pain in the lower back and/or side. The pain is most likely coming from your kidneys. This can be a sign of bladder cancer.  

 

🔶 Gross Hematuria / Microscopic Hematuria: Heme is blood, and uria is referring to your urine. So hematuria means blood is in your urine. This is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. When looking at your urine sample, they find red blood cells in your urine. Gross hematuria means that when anyone looks at the urine sample, you can see blood. Microscopic hematuria means that under a microscope you can see blood cells in your urine, but the blood can't be visualized with a human eye. The color can range from slight pink, to bright red, to brownish (older oxidized blood), to orange. 

 

🔶  Hair Loss / Hair Thinning / Brittle and Dry Hair: Depending on the chemotherapy, you can loose all your hair.  Some people have reported that BCG can cause hair thinning and brittle or dry hair. Increase your protein, take collagen everyday, and invest in a good hair oil to help protect and moisturize your hair. 

 

🔶  Permanent Hearing Loss: this is a potential side effect of chemotherapy.

 

🔶  Impotent: a male that is unable to have an erection adequate for sexual intercourse. Sometimes this can be a side effect of removing the bladder or prostate.

 

🔶  Inflammation: a reaction that can cause symptoms such as swelling, soreness, redness, and warmth often as a reaction to illness or injury. BCG, UTI's, chemo, surgery and other bladder cancer treatments can cause this.

 

🔶  Kidney Stone / Renal Calculus: a hard mass formed in the kidneys, typically consisting of calcium compounds that can't be broken down by the body. Usually kidney stones have to be "passed" meaning they need to come out through your urinary system... kidney, ureter, bladder, then urethra. They are usually very painful. Sometimes, people might think what they passed was a kidney stone, but it might be a piece of a tumor in your urinary system.

 

🔶 Nerve Pain / Neuropathy / Neuropathic Pain : disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves, typically causing numbness or weakness. Chemo can cause this permanent dysfunction. 

 

🔶 Overactive Bladder: When your bladder spasms very often, causing someone to need to urinate all the time. There can also be urine leakage associated with this as well. There are medications that can help with this. This can be a sign of bladder cancer.

 

🔶 Urethritis: your urethra is inflamed (itis means inflammation). If it gets severe enough, it can clamp shut, thus blocking the flow of urine. If this happens, it's an emergency. It's called acute urinary retention.

 

🔶 Urge Incontinence: when your bladder spasms, and you leak urine because of the urgent need to urinate. There are medications that can help with this.

 

🔶 Urinary Frequency and Urgency: it's exactly what it sounds like. You have an incredibly strong urge to urinate very often. These symptoms will come after a TURBT surgery (take out the tumor by going up your urethra - OUCH!), after having a catheter for treatments or tests, or if you have a urinary tract infection. This can also be a possible sign of bladder cancer, especially if after taking antibiotics the pain doesn't go away.

 

🔶 Urinary Tract Infection / UTI: it's an infection in any part of your urinary system - kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.