bladder transplants? is it possible?

[tracey]

my sister is 32 and has battling with this disease all her life. she has cysts on the inside and outside of her bladder. she is having exploratory surgery in june and has been told that if her bladder is too far gone she must have it removed. does anyone know anything about bladder transplants? she has been told that it cant be done but we live in a small town and i wanted to know if it is possible in the bigger cities or not. thank you for any advice that you give. confused.gif

[ICNDonna]

Up to this point, a bladder transplant is not an option --- maybe some time in the future?

The closest they can come up to now is an internal pouch, which has to be emptied with a catheter on a regular basis --- several times a day.

I hope your sister does well.

Donna

[tracey]

THANK YOU DONNA FOR YOUR INFO. I AM REALLY SHOCKED BY THIS! I FIND IT REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN TRANSPLANT A HUMAN HEART BUT NOT A HUMAN BLADDER. IN THIS DAY AND AGE IT IS A REAL SHAME THAT MORE RESEARCH HASNT BEEN DONE ON THIS TOPIC. ANYWAY, THANK YOU AGAIN DONNA. smile.gif

[Jazzy Baby]

Ok, dont mark my words, but my doc said that they can do a bladder transplant. The reason that they dont with IC, is because they have tried, and because IC is an autoimmune disease, it attacks the new bladder. But that wouldnt happen with your sister, so it should do well with her. I have to see my Uro today, and I will ask him for some info on it. Hope that I can help.

[justdeb1]

Hi Tracey,

Welcome to the ICN - I hope you meet many new friends here, I'm sure you will biggrin.gif .

Donnas unfortunately correct though, they cannot transplant a bladder. Doenst make much sense does it since they can transplant just about everything else, but a bladder hasnt been done. They can do one of 2 things - first, like Donna stated, you can have a bag (either internal or external) thats one option. Second, they CAN REBUILD a bladder out of intestinal lining (cant transplant one..but can rebuild/make ya a new one) but as the other post stated - IC comes back and attacks the "rebuilt" bladder because it infests into the tissue - just like in the original bladder.

Science one day will come up with something. I always say, if they can clone a human (and they ARE doing it...just wont admit it.... rolleyes.gif and I'd wish they'd clone me a few new body parts myself biggrin.gif ) but.....I think as far as a transplant, a bladder is a different organ and whereas a heart transplant/kidney transplant patient can receive those types of organs (and others) - they still have to take meds for their bodies not to "reject" the new organ. I dunno hun.....I've asked the SAME questions over and over again to my uro - who is amazing and wonderful (finally found the right one 4 years ago...and I thank God EVERY day for him). Yet I still get the same answer..."Deb..you know the options and what can/will happen" frown.gif

Frustrating..but hang in there.....family members, especiall those that understand when another has IC and can relate/help is the MOST important thing someone with IC can have. Its wonderful to have family say "I BELIEVE YOU" vs. "get over it" and that applies to not just family, but friends and acquaintences as well. We get soooooooo tired of hearing "But you look healthy" - on the outside maybe..but the inside is a raging battle that varies for all of us with IC.

Welcome to our "home" smile.gif and I hope you stay - you'll meet some very interesting and loving people on here - and hopefully we can all help you to some degree.

Tons of hugs
Deb

[Yvonne]

Hi Tracey,

You know I often thought of the same question four years ago when I was to undergo the augmentation which failed. Would be so nice but what Deb has just posted is basically the way it is. Welcome to these boards, there are so many helpful, resourceful and caring people on these boards and it is through these boards that I keep myself sane in the midst of 24/7 pain.

I hope your sister has a speedy recovery, let us know how she makes out ok.

All the best!!! smile.gif

[yvette]

Well they can regenerate a new bladder out of cells (its not cloning and not stem cells). But so far its only been experimental and its been experimented with Dogs. Dr. Vacanti grew an entire HEALTHY dog bladder in a "tube" and Dr. Atala grew 6 bladders and implanted them in 6 dogs and those dogs are using them successfully.
Last I read, Dr. Atala is seeking FDA approval for human testing.

Jamsine is correct about the IC possibly spreading into the new bladder. I also think the bladder seems to be a very unique organ. It's voluntary and involuntary in its functions and complex in its own right.

[justdeb1]

(deb rolls over onto her back)

welp...call me "spot" and throw my butt a bone because I'm wishin I was a freakin dog now biggrin.gif

They can regenerate from a dog....GO FIGURE huh? Someone just put my name on my bowl so I dont forget it on those days when I'm in agony and cant remember it myself okay?

*grunts...a dog.....of all things....* rolleyes.gif

Tons of hugs,

"scruffy" smile.gif

[darlene]

Those dogs probably had healthy bladders before they received the transplanted ones. They didn't have whatever causes IC, to damage their new bladders. Until the true cause of IC is known, bladder transplants probably wouldn't be a cure. Finding the cause, and developing ways to turn it off, is our best hope .

[tigger_gal]

well I'm with deb.....call me spot and get me a new bladder too biggrin.gif
I read something along I mean a long time ago about some dr replacing a human bladder with a pigs bladder. pretty scary but kind of funny at the same time...... We can sit here and think of all the things that can be replaced and I don't think that a bladder replacement would be as hard to replace as a liver or a heart......
cindy

[tracey]

thank you all for your time in replying to my question. it is nice to know that there is such a nice network of caring people. smile.gif cool.gif smile.gif cool.gif smile.gif cool.gif

[Kara]

Tracey,

There is a doctor in MA that is experimenting with dog bladders that have been cloned from the DNA of the dog. It's not set up for us yet but maybe some day soon it will be. If they could just keep your sister comforatable that would be awesome but we all know how hard that is. I have given up and can't wait for this miracle to happen so I am having my bladder removed on June 14th, I am only 25 but I am ready to move on.

I wish you and your sister luck and peace from the pain.


Kara

[pepper7677]

my wife's aunt had just been diagnosed with cancer to the bladder. we need more info on what is possible to take care of this problem. transplant. rebuild or removed?

[~*~Christine~*~]

Hi pepper!

I don't think anyone, here, can provide you with such answer since forms of removal, for this case, depend on a lot of factors, such as the stage of cancer, the patients age/health, etc
The best thing for her would be to discus her options with her urologist