Yen, a 61-year-old woman, recently underwent a routine health checkup and was diagnosed with bladder cancer. As a result of the diagnosis, she had to undergo surgery to remove her bladder and part of her small intestine in order to create a new urine bag. The surgery was performed by Dr. Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Department of Urology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
During the surgery, it was discovered that Yen’s bladder had multiple tumors of varying sizes and shapes. Fortunately, the cancer was in a localized stage and had not spread to other organs or lymph nodes. Dr. Cuong determined that surgery was the best course of treatment for this case as chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone would not be effective.
The surgery involved removing the bladder, pelvic lymph nodes and reconstructing a new urinary tract using part of Yen’s small intestine. This complex procedure, known as blastoplasty surgery, requires a high level of skill and experience to perform successfully. In some cases, the new bladder can be connected to the urethra, allowing the patient to urinate normally without a urine bag.
Following the surgery, Yen had to undergo a period of recovery during which she gradually resumed eating and drinking. She experienced some pain initially but was able to walk easily within a week of the surgery and was eventually discharged from the hospital.
Dr. Cuong emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment for bladder cancer as late-stage cases can be difficult to treat and have a poor prognosis. He recommended that individuals with symptoms such as hematuria (blood in the urine) seek medical attention promptly and undergo regular health check-ups