Actos News

Actos Users Need to Watch Out for Bladder Cancer Symptoms
Monday, September 26, 2011

According to data released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August, diabetes patients who have been using Actos over a long period or have been taking cumulative dosages of the drug need to be alert to the symptoms of bladder cancer. Analysis of this data prompted the health agency to release a safety alert, warning that the risk of bladder cancer is 40 percent greater in diabetes patients taking Actos for longer than two years.

Bladder cancer is the growth of tumor cells in the urinary bladder. These cancers can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs and liver. Common symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine, frequent and/or painful urination, and discomfort in the lower back area, weight loss and anemia.

A person with bladder cancer may also exhibit differences in the frequency of urination, and a tendency to pass small amounts of urine. A person with bladder cancer may suffer from incontinence, or an inability to hold urine for a long period of time. There may also be a burning sensation while passing urine. In advanced stages of bladder cancer, the person may suffer from a distended bladder, or aches in the bones.

Actos bladder cancer lawyers are concerned that patients may mistake some of the symptoms of bladder cancer for those of other conditions. Some of the symptoms of bladder cancer may mimic those found in other less-serious conditions. For instance, changes in the frequency of urination or burning sensation during urination are common symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Patients who are currently taking Actos to control their diabetes, and have been taking it for a long period of time or have been on high doses of the drug, must look out for signs of bladder cancer and get them checked by a doctor as quickly as possible.