An advanced, noninvasive urine test to both diagnose and monitor bladder cancer has the potential to not just make testing for the disease easier, but to save thousands of lives, says New York genetics expert Dr. Shashi Pawar.

Encouraged by the National Institutes of Health, researchers are fine-tuning the test that would allow pathologists to examine a urine sample for specific genes and genetic activity related to bladder cancer, rather than require the patient to undergo an invasive procedure like biopsy.

More than 70,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with new cases of bladder cancer in 2009, says the National Cancer Institute. It’s the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common in women, leading to roughly 14,000 deaths a year.

Experts have not yet been able to pinpoint what causes bladder cancer, but believe that both genetic and environmental factors come into play. These risk factors include:

Age. People under 40 rarely develop the disease.
Smoking. According to the American Cancer Society, smokers are more than twice as likely to suffer from bladder cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking can also be blamed for close to half of bladder cancer deaths.
Race. Whites have the highest bladder cancer rates; Asians the lowest.
Family or personal history. People with family members who’ve had bladder cancer are at increased risk. Recurrence is also common among those who’ve had the disease.
Being a man. Men are three times more likely to develop bladder cancer.

Studies have also found that people who have been infected with parasites common in the tropics, or have been treated with the drugs cyclophosphamide or arsenic, are also at increased risk. Certain industrial chemicals often used in the dye industry–aromatic amines, such as benzidine and beta-naphthylamine–have also been linked to the disease.

The artificial sweetener saccharin has been found to cause bladder cancer in animals, though there is no proof that it puts people at risk. Those with concerns should speak with their physician.

Common bladder cancer symptoms include blood in the urine; pain during urination; frequent urination; or frequently feeling the need to urinate without actually voiding.

If bladder cancer is suspected, a physician may order a combination of diagnostic exams. These may include laboratory urine tests; imaging like PET or CT scans; a procedure called cystoscopy, which requires a slender tube being snaked into the bladder; or surgical biopsy.

Health experts are hopeful, however, that the new urine test will help at least some patients avoid the more invasive diagnostic and staging techniques. The ease of the test could also help reduce healthcare costs.

"Any time you make testing easier, and less invasive, the patient benefits," said Dr. Pawar, who at Acupath works with a team of board-certified pathologists who specialize in uropathology–the science of diagnosing illnesses within the urinary tract. Acupath has also built a reputation on offering the latest advances in uropathology and related technologies.

"What’s also great is that this new advanced testing procedure is giving bladder cancer a spotlight," she added. "People don’t tend to talk about bladder cancer as much as other forms. But education about the disease needs to get out there."

About Dr. Shashi Pawar:
A diplomat of the American Society of Human Genetics and member of the Association of Molecular Pathology, Dr. Shashi Pawar serves as director of Genetics for Acupath Laboratories, Inc. Her more than 20 of experience in molecular genetics and molecular pathology includes working as a consultant for the Center for Human Genetics in Cleveland; a technical director of Genova Diagnostics; and holding several diagnostic laboratory directorships. Published in dozens of selective medical journals, her educational background includes a Ph.D. in biochemistry from City University of New York. She also served a clinical molecular genetics fellowship at Yale University and a clinical cytogenetics fellowship at Columbia University.
News Release Plainview, NY (PRWEB)

Early detection of bladder cancer, especially for military veterans and firefighters is the latest message being directed to men during Men’s Health Month by Men’s Health Network, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play, and pray. Recognizing that veterans and firefighters are among the most prominent occupational groups at increased risk for bladder cancer, Men’s Health Network has added new bladder cancer awareness information to their web-based library of men’s health issues at http://www.menshealthnetwork.org.

Bladder cancer is recognized as the leading occupational cancer because of workplace exposure to toxins. "In an occupational environment laden with chemicals and carcinogens, Men’s Health Network is poised to increase awareness of a forgotten cancer -bladder cancer," said Scott Williams, Vice President for Men’s Health Network.

“If diagnosed at an advanced stage, the five-year survival rate is less than ten percent (10%). Knowing your symptoms and risk factors for bladder cancer was never more important.”

Liam Hurley, M.D., urologist from Andover, MA, concurs, "The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries estimate 70,980 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year; 52, 810 will be men. That’s an increase from last year. It’s important to identify ways to encourage early detection; physicians have a battery of tests available, including a low-cost, point-of-care urine test that can be used to aid in diagnosis and monitor of bladder cancer."

Men’s Health Network is supporting broader bladder cancer awareness among the veteran population. Studies have shown that veterans are four times more likely to have bladder cancer than the general population. Likewise, others who work with chemicals, burning material, and soot have a higher risk for the cancer. Prolonged exposure to benzene compounds found in burning debris is also associated with bladder cancer risk. The number one risk factor for the disease is smoking cigarettes, increasing one’s risk four to seven times.

"Know the symptoms for bladder cancer," emphasized Dr. Hurley. "One of the first signs is blood in the urine (hematuria). Other signs can include painful urination, increased frequency of urination, a feeling of needing to urinate but not being able to do so, and chronic bladder inflammation from recurrent urinary tract infections. While each of these symptoms might have benign causes, the possibility of bladder cancer should not be excluded, especially for those who are at higher risk. Hematuria is the most frequent symptom of bladder cancer. However, there are many reasons for hematuria, including urinary tract infections and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and don’t delay in consulting your physician.

Bladder Cancer is often referred to as a lifetime cancer with one of the highest recurrence rates of any cancer – even skin cancer. According to government data, bladder cancer annual costs are almost $3 billion compared to $1.5 billion spent on prostate cancer.

Today, more than a half million people have had or are living with bladder cancer. Men’s Health Network encourages a grassroots movement to improve education of bladder cancer among state and national government leaders and to get the facts about bladder cancer in the firehouses, veteran health centers and workplaces across America.

"Legislation was passed last summer in my home state of Rhode Island creating a firefighters cancer wellness program," said Dr. Stein. "The program emphasizes the need for both annual testing and keeping firefighters informed about developments concerning links between firefighters’ exposure to hazardous materials and bladder cancer. This type of legislation validates the importance of early detection efforts for bladder cancer for all at risk."

For consumer health information refer to the Mens Health Network. Health professionals can review the most recent bladder cancer medical studies at the http://www.urotoday.com.
New Release: Washington DC (PRWEB) June 5, 2009