BLADDER CANCER in Pilot Group
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BLADDER CANCER in Pilot Group
I have recently been diagnosed with BLADDER CANCER. This was discovered on a routine urine test for an unconnected reason. I have had no symptoms. The tumour has been removed and I am undergoing a course of treatment that will continue for three years provided the cancer does not reappear.
A colleague of mine, who has had a similar career pattern, is in the same position and as a result of attending these treatments I have discovered that the hospital has several other pilots with the same condition. It’s all too many to be just co-incidence.
My career was 32 years in BA longhaul, retiring at age 55, I am now 61. When we were having regular medicals, we had a urine test that may have checked for blood in the urine but I expect that this was introduced at some time during our careers. The nurse mentioned that they get referrals from pilots that have presented blood in their urine test.
Since retirement I had not had any routine urine tests, but it would seem prudent to have this done regularly in the light of my experience
It does appear to me that there may be a high incidence of BLADDER CANCER among full career pilots who are now in retirement. The test is simple and the treatment is localised in the bladder. Doing nothing can allow it to spread with serious consequences. Advanced stages, but bladder contained, can be treated by bladder removal.
FELLOW RETIREES, I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO DICUSS THIS WITH YOUR GP AND GET THIS CHECKED EARLY RATHER THAN WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO APPEAR.
A colleague of mine, who has had a similar career pattern, is in the same position and as a result of attending these treatments I have discovered that the hospital has several other pilots with the same condition. It’s all too many to be just co-incidence.
My career was 32 years in BA longhaul, retiring at age 55, I am now 61. When we were having regular medicals, we had a urine test that may have checked for blood in the urine but I expect that this was introduced at some time during our careers. The nurse mentioned that they get referrals from pilots that have presented blood in their urine test.
Since retirement I had not had any routine urine tests, but it would seem prudent to have this done regularly in the light of my experience
It does appear to me that there may be a high incidence of BLADDER CANCER among full career pilots who are now in retirement. The test is simple and the treatment is localised in the bladder. Doing nothing can allow it to spread with serious consequences. Advanced stages, but bladder contained, can be treated by bladder removal.
FELLOW RETIREES, I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO DICUSS THIS WITH YOUR GP AND GET THIS CHECKED EARLY RATHER THAN WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO APPEAR.
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Good advice.
I know of no studies that link pilots with bladder cancer. You guys tend to live longer than Joe Average, probably 'cos you're from a better background, went to a good school, and are generally happy people. (Before I get any flack like last time, it's not the same as being stuck under a crane in a shipyard, trying to fix a gearbox at 7am is it?)
You are more likely to die of sun related cancers, but CA bladder isn't one of them.
From memory, I think there is a link between Aniline Dye products and this disease, there could be other chemical links. (You'd have to have a search on Medline for more detail.)
Maybe your medical checks pick up problems whilst treatable??? Which maybe skews the nurses way of thinking. (It doesn't take much!)
Good luck with the treatment, sounds like you've got things caught whilst the prognosis is good.
I know of no studies that link pilots with bladder cancer. You guys tend to live longer than Joe Average, probably 'cos you're from a better background, went to a good school, and are generally happy people. (Before I get any flack like last time, it's not the same as being stuck under a crane in a shipyard, trying to fix a gearbox at 7am is it?)
You are more likely to die of sun related cancers, but CA bladder isn't one of them.
From memory, I think there is a link between Aniline Dye products and this disease, there could be other chemical links. (You'd have to have a search on Medline for more detail.)
Maybe your medical checks pick up problems whilst treatable??? Which maybe skews the nurses way of thinking. (It doesn't take much!)
Good luck with the treatment, sounds like you've got things caught whilst the prognosis is good.
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I agree with gingernut.
The main risks for bladder cancer these days are smoking, smoking and smoking, followed by chemical and industrial exposure to aniline dyes, solvents and rubber industry.
The most likely explanation is going to be the fact that because of your mandatory medicals, the chance finding of microscopic blood in the urine will be made and then investigated. The implications for your employment / licencing, of such a diagnosis are also higher in your profession, and thus will be much more of a discussion point. So we have to stick to the data rather than anecdotes / vox pops and such.
All the best though and good luck with your treatment.
The plumber.
The main risks for bladder cancer these days are smoking, smoking and smoking, followed by chemical and industrial exposure to aniline dyes, solvents and rubber industry.
The most likely explanation is going to be the fact that because of your mandatory medicals, the chance finding of microscopic blood in the urine will be made and then investigated. The implications for your employment / licencing, of such a diagnosis are also higher in your profession, and thus will be much more of a discussion point. So we have to stick to the data rather than anecdotes / vox pops and such.
All the best though and good luck with your treatment.
The plumber.
