Bladder Cancer Information

Cystitis, comparatively, is a very common infection amongst dogs as well as humans and is more likely to infect females rather than males.

Bacterial infection of the bladder is what causes bacterial cystitis in dogs and due to the shorter distance the bacteria needs to travel up the urethra to the bladder this disease is more common amongst females. In most cases, the main source of bacteria will be the anus. The relatively shorter distance between the vagina and the anus results in females being effected more so than males.

After reaching the bladder the unwanted bacterium will travel to the thin outer wall of the muscle that forms the bladder worsening the infection. Trying to maintain a healthy body, at this point the mild acids in the dog’s urine will try and fight the bacterium to stop the infection.

The infection will begin to worsen once this natural defense system fails and the acids in the urine run out. A worsening infection would mean that the dog would feel a burning sensation in its bladder which in turn may rupture microscopic blood vessels leaking them into the urine and giving it a reddish pink color. The natural response of the dogs’ body would be to contract its bladder muscles and thus leave the bladder in a continuous state of spasm.

In this state, the dogs’ bladder will create a feeling which would make the dog want to urinate and a similar feeling will be caused by the small amounts of urine filling up the contracted bladder.

What a Professional May Have to Say.

If the vet suspects the dog to have bacterial cystitis they will ask you to bring in a urine sample which will be used to test for acidic (pH) levels, glucose and blood cells.

If the vet manages to find blood vessels in the urine sample this will confirm that there is inflammation of the bladder and thus the proper diagnosis will lead to appropriate treatments to cure the disease.

If there is glucose present in the urine, which encourages bacteria growth, it might mean that the dog has a mild case of diabetes and a different treatment would be suggested to cure cystitis.

The urine sample will also be tested for pH levels and if these turn out to be too high it will indicate that the dogs’ urine does not contain adequate levels of acid to fight the bacteria which would make the dog more prone to this disease and will require further treatment such as a different diet to lower the pH level.

The vet may also want to conduct further tests such as an ultrasound scan, an x-ray or endoscopy to view the bladder. These tests will help check the presence of abnormal cells such as tumors or microscopic bladder stones (crystals).

Only after all these tests and procedures have been conducted will the vet be able to diagnose the disease properly and suggest the appropriate treatment or inflammatory medicine to use.

The BreastsThe breasts sit on the chest muscles that cover the ribs. Each breast is made of 15 to 20 lobes. Lobes contain many smaller lobules. Lobules contain groups of tiny glands that can produce milk. Milk flows from the lobules through thin tubes called ducts to the nipple. The nipple is in the center of a dark area of skin called the areola. Fat fills the spaces between the lobules and ducts.The breasts also contain lymph vessels. These vessels lead to small, round organs called lymph nodes. Groups of lymph nodes are near the breast in the axilla (underarm), above the collarbone, in the chest behind the breastbone, and in many other parts of the body. The lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells, or other harmful substances.The KidneysThe kidneys are a pair of organs on either side of the spine in the lower abdomen. Each kidney is about the size of a fist. Attached to the top of each kidney is an adrenal gland. A mass of fatty tissue and an outer layer of fibrous tissue (Gerota’s fascia) enclose the kidneys and adrenal glands.doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.What Is Leukemia?Leukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All cancers begin in cells, which make up blood and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. Leukemia is cancer that begins in blood cells. The SkinThe skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects against heat, light, injury, and infection. It helps control body temperature. It stores water and fat. The skin also makes vitamin D.The skin has two main layers:Epidermis and DermisThe LungYour lungs are a pair of large organs in your chest. They are part of your respiratory system. Air enters your body through your nose or mouth. It passes through your windpipe (trachea) and through each bronchus, and goes into your lungs.When you breathe in, your lungs expand with air. This is how your body gets oxygen.When you breathe out, air goes out of your lungs. This is how your body gets rid of carbon dioxide.Your right lung has three parts (lobes). Your left lung is smaller and has two lobes.A thin tissue (the pleura) covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest. Between the two layers of the pleura is a very small amount of fluid (pleural fluid). Normally, this fluid does not build up.

Unfortunately, these days cancer has become more and more of a commonplace disease. Almost everyone knows someone who has battled cancer or has even suffered through the disease themselves. While the cause of cancer is not always known, physicians can often effectively diagnose and treat various types of cancer. However, on those occasions when cancer is misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all, a life threatening situation can develop for the patient.

Frequently Misdiagnosed Cancers

Common cancers that are frequently misdiagnosed leading to medical malpractice lawsuits include:
· Breast cancer
· Lung cancer
· Rectal cancer
· Prostrate cancer
· Cervical cancer
· Ovarian cancer
· Testicular cancer

Statistics have shown that most cases of breast cancer malpractice are due to mismanagement of medical tests. The typical problem is when the severity of the breast lump or symptom is underestimated. A delayed breast cancer diagnosis can be extremely dangerous, as a more advanced cancer is harder to treat and more likely to spread.

The importance of early detection and treatment in cancer patient is crucial to their survival. For example, an incorrect diagnosis of lung cancer is often responsible for the unnecessary removal of a lung. A delayed diagnosis can be responsible for growth of the cancer, making it much harder to treat. Accordingly, the typical lung cancer malpractice case alleges misdiagnosis via poor diagnostic methods or the mismanagement of diagnostic tests.

Grounds for Cancer Malpractice Claim

Some of the most common bases of a cancer malpractice claim include:
· The results of a test were not reported to the patient
· Failure to perform a test that would have diagnosed the cancer
· Symptoms and their causes such as rectal bleeding, changes in bowel or bladder habits, nagging cough or hoarseness, a lump in a breast or an abnormal pap smear were ignored or not followed up on sufficiently by the health care professional
· Symptoms were identified but the patient was not referred to a specialist
· X-rays, mammograms or other tests were not interpreted correctly
· X-rays, mammograms or other tests were not properly administered

Failing to diagnose cancer can result in death or severe injury and is one of the leading causes of medical malpractice lawsuits. Cancer malpractice victims may be entitled to recover their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages resulting form the missed diagnosis or negligent treatment.