Recently, Yen, a 61-year-old woman, underwent a general health checkup and was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Doctors recommended removing her bladder and small intestine to create a new urine bag. During the procedure, they discovered that her bladder had multiple tumors of varying sizes and shapes, resembling cauliflower.
On May 4th, Dr. Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Department of Urology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, performed an endoscopic tumor resection to biopsy the tumors. After further examination, it was determined that the cancer was in a localized stage and had not metastasized to other organs. The recommended treatment was to remove the entire bladder, perform pelvic lymph node removal, and reconstruct a new urinary tract.
The surgery was complicated due to previous surgeries and adhesions in the abdomen, requiring an open surgery rather than laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Cuong used a portion of Yen’s small intestine to create a new urine bag to replace the removed bladder. Post-surgery, Yen had to fast and gradually transition back to eating solid foods.
Bladder cancer is a common diagnosis at Tam Anh General Hospital with an average of 3-4 cases per month. Early detection and treatment are key to improving outcomes with endoscopic resection being effective in many cases. Regular monitoring is needed post-surgery to prevent recurrence
