Bladder Cancer & Medicinal Mushrooms

The bladder is part of the urinary system and is a muscular organ that accumulates and holds the urine until it can be excreted from the body.

As per the data, around the world, the male segment of populations is about three times more affected by this disease than the female segment. The reason so far is unknown.

Bladder cancer is a type of disease occurring when certain cells in the bladder start a quick abnormal growth, multiply uncontrollably and start invading other tissues.

• Transitional cell carcinoma – most common in occurrence and it starts in the transitional cells of the inner layer of the bladder, these are the cells that allow the bladder to expand and contract depending on the amount of urine.
• Squamous cell carcinoma – rare type of bladder cancer and it starts in the thin flat squamous cells that form as a result of a long-term infection or irritation in the bladder.
• Adenocarcinoma – rare type of bladder cancer and starts with the formation of glandular cells as a result of a long-term infection or irritation in the bladder.

• Smoking – about a half of men and women smokers are developing bladder cancer
• Chronic bladder infections
• Being male
• Being white race – white population has a higher incidence of developing bladder cancer
• Being over 55 years of age
• Eating high-fat foods
• Consuming insufficient amount of water
• Being exposed to toxic and cancerogenic chemicals in the environment
• Having a family history of bladder cancer
• Having a history of previous radiation therapy treating cancer in the pelvic area
• Having a history of previous treatment involving the drug Cytoxan

• Blood in the urine – might be without pain while urinating
• Painful urination
• Frequent urination
• Incontinence
• Urgent need for urination
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Tender bones and tissues
• Pain in the abdominal area
• Pain in the lower back area

• Internal manual examination
• Urinalysis – laboratory test
• Cystoscopy – insertion through the urethra of a narrow tube with a small camera for your doctor to examine the bladder on the inside
• Biopsy – insertion through the urethra of a small tool to take a sample of tissue from your bladder and have it tested in the laboratory for cancer cells
• CT scan to examine the bladder in all dimensions
• Intra-venous pyelogram (IVP) - X-ray and dye are used to obtain a better visual image of the bladder
• X-rays

• Stage 0 - bladder cancer hasn’t spread past the lining of the bladder.
• Stage 1 - bladder cancer has spread past the lining of the bladder, but it hasn’t reached the layer of muscle in the bladder.
• Stage 2 - bladder cancer has spread to the layer of muscle in the bladder.
• Stage 3 - bladder cancer has spread into the tissues that surround the bladder.
• Stage 4 - bladder cancer has spread past the bladder to the neighbouring areas of the body.

The treatment method will depend on the type and stage of your bladder cancer as well as your symptoms and your general health.

The exact cause of bladder cancer is still unknown and as such, it is impossible to totally prevent it.

Here are some things that we can do to reduce the risk:

• Stop smoking
• Avoid second-hand smoking
• Make sure to drink enough water
• Avoid exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals
• Avoid developing bladder infections
• Avoid high-fat foods

There is an overwhelming scientific evidence that certain medicinal mushrooms contain specific polysaccharides that are able to fight and shrink cancer cells. These include:

• Reishi
• Maitake
• Shiitake
• Cordyceps

Please do not hesitate to contact me and discuss your health issues or any of our MediMushrooms products.

I am here to help,
Dr Alla.