Yen, a 61-year-old woman, recently underwent a general health checkup and was diagnosed with bladder cancer. As a result of her diagnosis, she had to undergo surgery to remove her bladder and part of her small intestine to create a new urine bag. The surgery was performed by Dr. Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Department of Urology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
During the surgery, it was discovered that Yen’s bladder had multiple tumors of varying sizes and shapes. However, fortunately for her, the cancer was in its localized stage and had not spread to other organs or lymph nodes. Dr. Cuong determined that surgery was the best course of treatment in this case, as chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone would not be effective enough to eliminate all the cancer cells.
The complex procedure known as blastoplasty surgery involved removing Yen’s bladder, pelvic lymph nodes, and reconstructing a new urinary tract using part of her small intestine. Blastoplasty surgery is an intricate operation that requires an exceptional level of skill and experience from surgeons to perform successfully. In some cases, the new bladder can be connected to the urethra, allowing patients like Yen to urinate normally without having a urine bag attached.
Following the surgery, Yen experienced some pain initially but gradually resumed eating and drinking within a week of the procedure. She remained in the hospital for several weeks before being discharged once she regained full strength and could walk easily without any assistance. Dr. Cuong emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment for bladder cancer as late-stage cases can be challenging to treat and have poor prognosis outcomes. He advised individuals with symptoms such as blood in their urine (hematuria) to seek medical attention promptly and undergo regular health checkups regularly.
Bladder cancer is an aggressive condition that requires timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans tailored specifically for each individual patient’s unique circumstances.
In conclusion, early detection is key when it comes to bladder cancer treatment outcomes since late-stage cases may require more extensive treatments with fewer chances of success compared to early-stage diagnoses.