SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) When Cameron Todd was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, he never imagined that just two and a half months later, his doctors would diagnose him with bladder cancer. Concerned about what this newer diagnosis would mean for his health and active lifestyle, Todd and his wife took immediate action and sought help.
Bladder cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer in the U.S., with over 80,000 new cases in 2018. But there is good news for current patients and those suspected of having bladder cancer: advancements in technology are significantly improving detection and management.
Cystoscopy, the gold standard diagnostic tool for bladder cancer detection, has historically been performed using only white light for visualizing suspicious lesions. Unfortunately, there is a high risk of recurrence in bladder cancer, and experts believe this may be due to doctors being unable to detect (and therefore remove) all of the cancer during the initial resection using white light.
After Todd underwent two operations to remove cancer cells in the bladder, doctors recommended Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview, a state-of-the-art technology that significantly improves the detection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer compared to traditional White Light Cystoscopy alone. Cysview is an optical imaging agent that makes cancer cells in the bladder glow bright pink under blue light. The pink fluorescence helps improve the detection of tumors, potentially leading to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors and better disease management decisions.
“Blue light detection has given me a mental support system. Being able to see the scans myself gave me peace of mind and comfort in my care,” says Todd, who has since become a patient ambassador for Photocure, maker of Cysview.
As with most cancers, getting an early diagnosis of bladder cancer can give you more treatment options. But experts warn that bladder cancer often goes undiagnosed, as many people shrug off common signs of the disease. If you have any of the following symptoms, experts advise you see your doctor:
• Blood in the urine (hematuria) is the most common symptom. If your urine is darker than normal or is slightly red in color, this could be an indication of blood in the urine. Don’t ignore it. Tell your healthcare provider right away.
• Frequent urination.
• Pain during urination.
• Feeling the need to urinate but not being able to.
• Abdominal pain.
For women in particular, recurring urinary tract infections and sudden changes in urination habits can be signs of bladder cancer.
If your healthcare provider believes you may have bladder cancer, then he or she may send you to see a urologist. Your urologist will do a full history, physical exam and several tests. Be prepared by downloading a handy guide of questions to ask your doctor and learning more about the latest in bladder cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment at: rebrand.ly/Bladder-Cancer-Basics.
To take control of your health, know the signs of bladder cancer and be aware of the latest technologies available in the detection and management of the disease.
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Important Safety Information About Cysview® (hexaminolevulinate HCl)
Cysview is not a replacement for random bladder biopsies or other procedures used in the detection of bladder cancer.
Anaphylactoid shock, hypersensitivity reactions, bladder pain, cystitis, and abnormal urinalysis have been reported after administration of Cysview. The most common adverse reactions seen in clinical trials were bladder spasm, dysuria, hematuria, and bladder pain.
Cysview should not be used in patients with porphyria, gross hematuria, or with known hypersensitivity to hexaminolevulinate or any derivative of aminolevulinic acid. Cysview may fail to detect some malignant lesions. False-positive fluorescence may occur due to inflammation, cystoscopic trauma, scar tissue, previous bladder biopsy and recent BCG therapy or intravesical chemotherapy. No specific drug interaction studies have been performed.
Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients. There are no available data on Cysview use in pregnant women. Adequate reproductive and developmental toxicity studies in animals have not been performed. Systemic absorption following administration of Cysview is expected to be minimal. There are no data on the presence of hexaminolevulinate in human or animal milk, the effects on a breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The development and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Cysview and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from Cysview or from the underlying maternal condition.
Cysview is approved for use with the KARL STORZ D-Light C Photodynamic Diagnostic (PDD) system. For system set-up and general information for the safe use of the PDD system, please refer to the KARL STORZ instruction manuals for each of the components.
Prior to Cysview administration, read the Full Prescribing Information and follow the preparation and reconstitution instructions.
Product Indication
Cysview is an optical imaging agent indicated for use in the cystoscopic detection of carcinoma of the bladder, including carcinoma in situ (CIS), among patients suspected or known to have lesion(s) on the basis of a prior cystoscopy, or in patients undergoing surveillance cystoscopy for carcinoma of the bladder. Cysview is used with the KARL STORZ D-Light C Photodynamic Diagnostic (PDD) system to perform Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC®) as an adjunct to White Light Cystoscopy.
This message was sponsored by Photocure, Inc.
