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You may have heard about the
BTA stat test and its effectiveness for detecting recurrent
bladder cancer tumors.
Here are some common questions and answers to help you better understand
this test and how you or a family member may benefit from it.
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How
common is bladder cancer?
Bladder
cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men and the eighth
most common among women. Approximately 60,000 new cases are
diagnosed in the US each year. This adds to the 600,000 bladder
cancer patients who require lifelong monitoring.
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Why
is it important for bladder cancer
patients
to be monitored for
a lifetime?
Approximately
8 out of 10 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients show recurrence
- that is the cancer returns - within the first year. Early
detection greatly increases the chance of survival. The five year
survival rate is 90% if the cancer is caught early and 10% if it is
detected late.
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Why
is the BTA stat Test important?
The
test may provide doctors with information that could lead to early
detection of recurrent bladder cancer therefore providing for
earlier treatment and increased survival rates.
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What
is the BTA stat Test?
The
BTA stat Test is a simple one-step test that measures an
substance produced by bladder tumors. The test is simple, uses only
5 drops of urine, and takes 5 minutes.
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Is
there any discomfort or
special
procedures?
No!
The test requires one urine sample. The sample is collected in a
plastic cup provided by the doctor.
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How
is the test done?
A
urine sample is collected in a plastic cup. The test is performed by
the doctor or his staff using 5 drops of the urine and then waiting
5 minutes for the result. The test may also be done by the patient
at home.
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How
does the test work?
The
BTA stat Test uses special antibodies to detect a substance
released into urine by bladder cancer cells. The presence of this
substance in urine will cause a colored line to form.
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How
do you know the test works?
The
BTA stat Test was evaluated in different cities with patients
diagnosed with bladder cancer. The study showed that the test
detected as many as 9 out of 10 early stage cancers. The test was
negative in 19 out of 20 healthy people. However, there are
conditions other than bladder cancer that can cause positive
results. The results of the test will be used by the doctor along
with other information to determine the best course of action for a
patient.
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Who
should use the BTA stat Test?
Any
person who has ever been diagnosed with bladder cancer and is under
a doctor's care could benefit from the test.
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How
often should the BTA stat Test be run?
How
often the test is run is based on the patient's condition and risk.
These are determined by their doctor.
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How
can I have a BTA stat Test run?
Ask
your doctor to run the test or prescribe it for you to use at home.
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Ask
your doctor about the BTA stat test for the detection of
recurrent bladder cancer.
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