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Urology (Expert Forum)
Bladder infections is it a sign of Cancer?
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
Bladder infections is it a sign of Cancer?
by Merle__0, Feb 15, 1999 12:00AM
My wife has had a bladder infection for over 90 days.
She has been under a DR. care from the begining. She has tried many different Drugs and the infection keeps coming back.
Could this be a sign of bladder Cancer? Should my DR. do some kind of Cancer test? If not a sign of Cancer, How do we get rid of the infection????????
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-MS, Feb 15, 1999 12:00AM
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Dear Merle,
Thanks for your question. A urinary tract infection means that your wife’s urine has been cultured and has grown a significant number of bacteria repeatedly. A positive culture identifies the bacteria and predicts the antibiotic which will work against this infection. Patients that do not respond to antibiotics are diagnosed with a complicated UTI and should be referred to a Urologist. I have seen patients with concurrent bladder cancer and UTI’s. This is more common in older women. The work-up for bladder tumors and UTI is the same. An IVP ( intravenous pyelogram) is an X-ray with intravenous medication that shows the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. The kidney function must be normal for the patient to undergo an IVP. An IVP may show a stone or a tumor in a kidney, if present. The bladder is not seen that well with the IVP so a cystoscopic exam ( a look into the bladder with a lighted telescope) is required. A urine sample sent for cytology ( looking for cancer cells with a microscope ) can be very confusing to the pathologist if the urine sample is infected with bacteria. This test is reserved for uninfected urine.
There are several other causes of chronic and recurrent urine infections that your urologist will consider when he evaluates her, such as bladder function, anatomic abnormalities, connections between her intestine and urinary system (fistulas) to mention a few. She needs to be evaluated further if these infections persist.
More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its urban campuses by calling (1 800 653 6568). We can also arrange local accommodations through this number if this is your need. Please bring any physicians’ notes and lab test results that you may be able to obtain. These will help us greatly.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.
Sincerely;
HFHS-M.D. MS
* Keyword: UTI associated with bladder tumors, UTI diagnosis, bladder cancer diagnosis
