INTERSTITIALCYSTISIS

  MY 69 YO. ACYTIVE MOTHER-INLAW WAS DIAGNOSED WITH INTERSITIALCYSTISIS APPROX. 7 YEARS AGO. IS THIS A FORM AF BLADDER CANCER IF NOT WHAT IS IT? SHE IS IN CONSTANT PAIN 24 HRS. A DAY AND URINATES EVERY 15-20 MIN. SHE NO LONGER LIVES AN ACTIVE LIFE AND IS DEPRESSED. FROM WHAT HER DR. TELLS HER THERE IS NO CURE FORE THIS,IS THIS TRUE? IF NOT WHAT CAN SHE DO OR IS THERE A SPECIALIST THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT SHE CAN CONTACT? YOUR REPLY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

[HFHS M.D.-KR]

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Dear Joe,
Interstitial cystitis is a disorder that affects  approximately 43,500 women in the United States. It is not a cancer but can be equally as debilitating. It is characterized by pain, frequent voiding , burning and urgency in the absence of any evidence of infection. Treatment is largely directed at alleviation of symptoms. Many drugs have been evaluated in the treatment of IC. Recent attention has been given to Sodium pentosanpolysulfate ( Elmiron), tricyclic antidepressants such as amitryptiline, and bladder instillation with various agents such as DMSO and BCG. DMSO has been utilized since it was first poularized in the 1960