Making tumors inside the bladder fluoresce red under blue light allows physicians to more easily find and remove them, substantially reducing the rate at which these cancers come back, says Lance Mynderse, M.D., Mayo Clinic urologist who is presenting results of a large, multicenter international clinical trial.
The findings, which are being reported at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, show that this new diagnostic technique found more of the most common bladder tumors than the traditional white-light detection method in almost 17 percent of the patients, and demonstrated a 22 percent relative reduction in the recurrence rate within nine months of the procedure.
The study compared use of the traditional white-light cystoscopy with photodynamic diagnosis using a special light source and lenses that can switch from white to blue light. The blue light is designed for use with the study drug (hexaminolevulinate), which is instilled into a patient’s bladder prior to the therapeutic procedure. This acts as a prodrug that initiates a series of biochemical reactions in malignant cells which result in significant, preferential accumulation of photoactive porphryins. When the blue light is turned on, the tumors emit a red fluorescence. “The cancers appear bright red compared to normal tissue, which is a lighter blue-green,” Dr. Mynderse says. “It is quite dramatic. One sees bladder tumors in a whole new light.”
Below is a link to an edited youtube video with Dr. Mynderse .
Is this blue light technology readily available in the US or can it be done by Mayo Clinic, I have Carcinoma in situ of the bladder , it reoccurred after 6 years, bcg treatments were used the first time , and were done this time also.
THANKS
DON
Thank you for your questions. We’ll be getting in touch with Dr. Mynderse and will reply by email.
I have been put on antibiotics for 70 days for possible infection of prostrate, no biopsy has been done. Does this follow any protocol or should I insist on further testing now? Roger
It would probably be best for you to contact our Mayo Clinic Urology appointment office to discuss further. That phone number is 507-293-0933.
In Jan 2009 I was detected to have bladder cancer that was not invasive. I had a procedure in Jan 2009 to remove the two tumors and then followed up on April 1 to do additional scraping of the tumor areas. I then started several weeks of BCG treatments that seemd to go okay other than normal passing of bloody mucous material and pain/discomfort for the first 24 to 36 hours. As the treatments continued during the suing period and into 2010 for the 3 treatments in mid-year, the third one created significant difficulty with the inability to retain the BCG in my bladder beyond 1 hour and 20 minutes. It took about 3 to 4u weeks after the third treatment in June 2010 for my bladder function to return to normal operation. I had another check in October 2010 and no cancer. Started the first of 3 series for BCG treatments in the first week of December. Only was able to keep the BCG in my bladder for 1 hour and 10 minutes. I had significant discomfort when urinating and bloody mucous for over a week. Went to the doctor and was checked for infection, which there was none and started on Enablex 7.5 mg once a day and Phenazopyrid 100 mg, 3 times a day. I was urinating, with pain, up to 60 times a day. Obviously, there has been little sleep. My urologist scoped my bladder and it was very inflamed. The good news was there was no evidence of cancer cells. After 4 weeks, I am now urinating w/discomfort about every hour during the night. Sometimes during the day I am still urinating every 20 to 30 minutes. Am scheduled for another scope this coming Friday, Dec 7. Needless to say, I am refusing any further BCG treatments. I am tired and will not subject myself to any further BCG treatments. I sincerely believe my body is saying it can no longer tolerate the BCG. I will deal with any cancer, should it return. I am currently 67 years old and am anxious to normal urinary function. I have every confidence in my urolgist and also went to the Mayo Clinic in early 2009 to confirm what my local uroligist was doing.
I read an article on frankensence/boswellia being infused and curing cancer in the bladder. I think it was in a medical letter. Tried all the available pills and gels for lessening frequent bladder, none helped. I Did both Mitromicin and BCG treatments. So being unable to infuse the frankenscence I purchased a ingestible boswellia/frankenscence oil, I took 8 drops with a small amount of water minutes before going to bed. Cancer hasn’t returned over the last three cystocopes 1 1/2 yrs.
On november,2010 I had a surgery of a bladder tumor and biopsy result was high grade carcinoma. Six weeks later another surgery of bladder tissue was performed and no muscular tissue was found. After, six weeks of BCG treatment, and three months of recovery anoyher bladder tumor was found and biopsy result was the same, high grade carcinoma, no muscular tissue. Oncologist insist to continue with BCG treatment. my oncologist refered me to Memorial Sloan=Kettering Cancer Ctr.for a reconstruction of the Bladder. I live in Puerto Rico and this surgery is not available here. Which treatment is more convenient, effective and advanced with better results. I know that BCG is less invasive but it can prevent that cancer spred to other tissues and organs? Thanks in advance,
Unfortunately, we cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this correspondence. However, if you would like to speak with one of our Urology Triage nurses about scheduling an appointment, the number is 507-507-266-3066. We do not provide electronic or telephone consultations.
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Please advise if and where this Flourescent light detection system is located. I have had 3 TURB procedures and 6 BCGS treatments. I am interested in this developement especially since the article is two years old. I was diagnosed in July 2010 with non-invasive and with insitu tumors.
Thank you,
David Everett
We’re checking ont he answer to your question.