Bladder Cancer is one of the most commonly occurring forms of cancer in the United States today. Over 75% of those diagnosed will be men, making bladder cancer the fourth most common cancer to affect the male population. The cause of bladder cancer is not entirely understood, but what is known is that smoking, alcohol consumption and exposure to certain environmental toxins all contribute to the occurrence of bladder cancer in adults. Typical symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine, pain when urinating, lower back pain, loss of appetite and unexpected weight loss. Bladder cancer can be difficult to diagnose, as early symptoms can often be attributed to other conditions such as kidney stones or bladder infections. The good news is, when diagnosed early, recovery rates for bladder cancer patients are very good indeed.
Conventional Treatments for Bladder Cancer
Current conventional treatments for bladder cancer involve a series of highly invasive medical procedures. Surgery to remove tumors, tissue and whole sections of the bladder itself remain standard treatment for cancer sufferers. This is typically followed with radiation, chemotherapy and drug dependent treatments which further assault the body in an effort to cure the patient’s cancer.
For those stricken with bladder cancer, the available conventional treatments can seem daunting, adding further physical and emotional stress to an already harrowing diagnosis. Alternative treatments, based on natural and holistic therapies, can help patients fight the cause of the cancer that is attacking their systems, minimizing the need for invasive, and toxic, conventional techniques.
Nutrition and Bladder Cancer
Good nutrition remains the foundation for all naturally centered healthcare. Through good nutrition we help our bodies stave off sickness, and give our systems the tools they need to recover from any illnesses or disorders that do occur. Patients stricken with bladder cancer can do much to help resolve the cause of the imbalances in their body that triggered the disease through the application of good nutritional practices.
The first step in designing a diet for fighting cancer is to remove those foods that can exacerbate the disorder. Animal products, including red meat, poultry, cured or smoked meats, butter, cheeses and whole milk should be eliminated from the patient’s diet. Commercial meat and dairy contain large amounts of environmental pollutants, including pesticides, hormones and animal steroids. These chemicals can not only have an adverse effect on a person’s general health, they can also serve to feed and support the cancer that patients are trying to fight. Highly processed foods and foods high in refined sugars and sodium should also be avoided. These foods place an added strain on the body’s immune system, as it must work to eliminate toxins from the food. This takes vital energy away from the fight against the cancer.
Once the majority of toxic foods have been eliminated from the diet, it is important to replace them with foods that help to boost the body’s own immune system. Raw fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, should make up a large part of the new dietary regime. Fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of quercetin and other phytochemicals that are essential to the immune system. Foods such as cranberries, blueberries, kale, broccoli, red onions and garlic, provide cancer fighting nutrients and enzymes that help to impede the further growth of cancer cells. Foods rich in the antioxidant lycopene, such as tomatoes, also help to prevent cancerous cells from damaging otherwise healthy cells within the bladder.
Vitamin supplements can also be added to the patient’s dietary regime to further bolster their immune system. Vitamins C and E help the body to maintain its natural health at both the cellular and DNA levels. Regular daily doses can be added to a patient’s already improved diet to help strengthen the body’s own ability to heal. Vitamin D is also recommended, as a regular dosage diminishes the activity of enzymes necessary to the growth of cancerous cells.
Exercise and Natural Therapy
In addition to any nutritional changes, it is important to begin a regimen of exercise and physical therapy to help strengthen the body at its core. Regular exercise can help boost a patient’s immune system and increase muscle mass. An exercise routine also gives the patient a greater sense of control over their body, and can help with the management of stress and anxiety. The addition of natural therapies, such as oxygen therapy, lymphatic drainage therapy along with balancing the nervous system, hormonal system, digestive system, and elimination system can also help to reduce stress on the organs, glands and tissues. Prayer and meditation are important in the reduction of stress, and the increased sense of emotional wellbeing adds strength to the body’s fight against cancer.
A diagnosis of bladder cancer can leave patients feeling afraid, and helpless. But by learning to be still and hear the voice of Truth spoken to the heart, trusting God to reveal each step of the journey, along with the help of a holistic clinician, and the support of family, patients can make the necessary lifestyle adjustments that will help their bodies and minds address the underlying cause of bladder cancer. These natural therapies help to support the body’s own healing powers, and create an environment in which the cancer cannot thrive.
