Bladder cancer is a common form of cancer that develops in the cells that line the bladder. Health information website Patient UK notes that blood in the urine is usually the first sign that a person has a bladder cancer, although other symptoms may include frequent urination or pain when passing urine. Most bladder cancers are treated by removing the tumor via minimally invasive surgery. Chemotherapy or immunotherapy may also be required. The herb green tea may play a role in the treatment of cancer, although it should never be used in place of conventional treatment. Talk to your doctor before including it in your cancer treatment program.
Properties and Administration
Green tea, sometimes known as Chinese tea, is a popular beverage made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is also used as an alternative remedy for a number of ailments, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension and cancer. It contains numerous biologically active chemicals but a compound known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate may confer chemopreventive effects, notes the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. This herb is usually consumed as a beverage but can also be taken in capsules or tablets. Ask your doctor how much you need to take.
Efficacy
The results of a study by K.M. Rieger-Christ and colleagues published in the October 2007 issue of the "Journal of Cellular Biochemistry" show that epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits bladder carcinoma cell growth. However, the study was carried out in mice, not humans with the disease. Research by Y. Sagara and colleagues form the Nagasaki University School of Medicine in Japan, published in the June 2010 issue of "Cancer Epidemiology," also found that green tea polyphenols inhibited tumor growth and invasion. Again, however, the study was carried out in an animal model. Human studies are needed to confirm these effects.
Side Effects and Contraindications
Green tea's tannin content may cause nausea and gastrointestinal upset, while its caffeine content may cause side effects, including nervousness, tremor and headache, if you consume more than 5 cups daily. Green tea is contraindicated in a number of conditions, including anemia, heart conditions, glaucoma and diabetes. It also interacts with a number of drugs, including stimulants like ephedrine, antibiotics, the birth control pill and anticoagulants. Ask your doctor whether it is safe for you to use green tea.
Preventive Measures
U.K. health care provider Bupa notes that you can take a number of steps to lower your risk of developing bladder cancer. These include taking 35 mg to 50 mg of vitamin D daily and quitting smoking. However, Bupa adds that you should not take a vitamin D supplement if you're taking diuretics or if you have a history of kidney stones or kidney failure. Ask your doctor what else you can do to reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer.
References
- Patient UK: Bladder Cancer
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Green Tea
- PubMed: The Green Tea Compound, (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Downregulates N-Cadherin and Suppresses Migration of Bladder Carcinoma Cells
- PubMed: Green Tea Polyphenol Suppresses Tumor Invasion and Angiogenesis in N-Butyl-(-4-Hydroxybutyl) Nitrosamine-Induced Bladder Cancer
- MedlinePlus: Green Tea
- Bupa: Bladder Cancer
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