Often, a person will receive the external ileal conduit because skilled physicians are often not available who can perfom the more advanced techniques. Complications such as blockage and kidney damage are not uncommon with the ileal conduit which may require further surgeries to correct. Although research in 'bladder sparing' techniques for those with invasive tumors is being done, there is a burning need to find and use more accurate ways of determining who is a candidate for such an approach. Those who don't respond to treatment have gambled with their lives by postponing surgery. There are new approaches using molecular analysis to help guide the treatment strategies of both forms of bladder cancer, but more studies must be done before this can be incorporated into standard treatment of both superficial and invasive bladder cancer.
Women are all too often misdiagnosed until it becomes too late .
Please help us in bringing awareness to our very serious concerns. If our state stands to benefit from fines levied against tobacco companies, warriors hope that some of these monies will be allocated for more bladder cancer research. Help our voices to be heard.