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What Are The Risks Associated With Untreated Bladder Cancer?
Question: My 93 year old father has bladder cancer. He does not want to have any more treatment. He has heart problems so could not safely have general anaesthetic. He is concerned what pain or symptoms he would suffer if he refuses treatment and how they would be controlled. He maintains he does not want to live any more.
Brief Answer:
Extreme weakness and urine retention are main symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Greetings from Dr Divakara P
Thanks for posting your query.
The symptoms of untreated bladder cancer depends on both bladder cancer and the site where the bladder cancer spreads.
The symptoms that may arise from bladder cancer per se are bleeding from urine resulting in low blood causing extreme weakness, obstruction to flow of urine causing urinary retention and severe abdominal pain.
The symptoms that may arise if cancer spreads are Intestinal obstruction causing continuous vomiting, not able to pass motions and pain abdomen, it may spread to back bone causing severe back pain sometimes even leg paralysis and if it spreads to lungs it causes blood vomiting or breathlessness.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask.
Regards
Extreme weakness and urine retention are main symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Greetings from Dr Divakara P
Thanks for posting your query.
The symptoms of untreated bladder cancer depends on both bladder cancer and the site where the bladder cancer spreads.
The symptoms that may arise from bladder cancer per se are bleeding from urine resulting in low blood causing extreme weakness, obstruction to flow of urine causing urinary retention and severe abdominal pain.
The symptoms that may arise if cancer spreads are Intestinal obstruction causing continuous vomiting, not able to pass motions and pain abdomen, it may spread to back bone causing severe back pain sometimes even leg paralysis and if it spreads to lungs it causes blood vomiting or breathlessness.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you
The symptoms if he stops treatment sound horrific.
Two further questions.
How much longer would his life be likely to be prolonged if he stops treatment taking into consideration his old age. What pain control and paliatrive care would he have?
Regards
The symptoms if he stops treatment sound horrific.
Two further questions.
How much longer would his life be likely to be prolonged if he stops treatment taking into consideration his old age. What pain control and paliatrive care would he have?
Regards
Brief Answer:
Morphine for pain can be used.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
His life expectancy without treatment depends on the stage of cancer, whether it has spread to other organs or not. So can you let me know these details?
But overall his life expectancy is not more than 3-4 months.
For pain he can be given Morphine tablets or injections, if he goes for urine retention , a catheter can be passed through his urethra and kept there which will drain his urine.
Other palliative treatment depends on the symptoms he develops.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask.
Regards.
Morphine for pain can be used.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
His life expectancy without treatment depends on the stage of cancer, whether it has spread to other organs or not. So can you let me know these details?
But overall his life expectancy is not more than 3-4 months.
For pain he can be given Morphine tablets or injections, if he goes for urine retention , a catheter can be passed through his urethra and kept there which will drain his urine.
Other palliative treatment depends on the symptoms he develops.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. I will now be able to explain options more clearly. He is due to see his Consultant next week and will then know more about his latest op. The op before showed the cancer had not gone through the bladder wall which was positive news.
Regards
Regards
Brief Answer:
Its a positive news.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Well that indeed is a positive news.
Any further queries feel free to ask. If none kindly close the discussion and rate my answer.
Regards.
Its a positive news.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Well that indeed is a positive news.
Any further queries feel free to ask. If none kindly close the discussion and rate my answer.
Regards.
Note: Get a consultation booked to know more about aging related medical issues. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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