Bladder Cancer Researcher Awarded Master of Medicine in Urology

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Research into the high prevalence of muscle invasive disease among bladder cancer patients at a regional hospital in Durban earned consultant urologist at St Aidan’s Hospital, Dr Siphesihle Mbatha, a Master of Medicine in Urology. 

St Aidan’s Urology department excels in diagnosing and treating problems involving the male and female urinary tract and male reproductive organs. 

Co-supervised by Dr Vishan Mohanlal Ramloutan and Professor Colleen Aldous, the study was published in the SVU-International Journal of Medical Sciences. 

‘This was a retrospective chart review of a huge number of cases handled by the St Aidan’s Urology department involving patients with haematuria who undergo transurethral resection of bladder tumours and end up having advanced non-benign diseases of the bladder,’ said Mbatha. ‘These often require life-changing surgical treatment as they impact the patients’ quality of life. The novelty in this review is the lack of awareness, not only from the unsuspecting patients but from primary healthcare service providers who are often late in referring such patients resulting in the definitive treatment window being very small,’ Mbatha explained. 

The study encouraged primary healthcare providers to have a ‘high index of suspicion’ and more in depth understanding of the value of early identification and related treatment strategies to patient prognosis and survival benefit. 

‘Important features of sufferers identified in this case series included advanced age, male gender, haematuria, abdominal pain, tobacco smoking, recurrent urinary infection, schistosomiasis, hypertension, bladder mass or hydronephrosis on computed tomography (a technique for displaying a representation of a cross section through a human body or other solid object using X-rays or ultrasound), and palpable bladder mass,’ said Mbatha. 

Said Aldous: ‘As a co-supervisor of this study, I want to acknowledge the excellent work done by the student, Siphesihle Mbatha, and his supervisor, Dr Vishan Ramloutan. This is a solid piece of research with important implications for public health. 

‘The high prevalence of muscle-invasive bladder cancer found in this setting highlights the need for earlier diagnosis and better risk factor management in our context. The study also identifies clinical features that could help primary care clinicians refer patients sooner, which could make a real difference to outcomes. This is the kind of work that helps build an evidence base for context-specific improvements in care.’ 

Mbatha of Madadeni in Newcastle said achieving the master’s milestone was made possible by ‘very dedicated and supportive Urology staff’ under the guidance of the former and current heads of departments, Dr Haron Patel and Dr Cindy Ziestman, along with the support of senior registrars and his co-supervisors. 

‘I was inspired to join the Medical fraternity through individuals I personally regarded as role models from the way they carried themselves within our small community which they served,’ he said. ‘The individuals were general medical practitioners Dr Musa Ngubane and Dr Bongani Masondo. This is an indication of how one can become a role model from a distance and be able to touch an individual like myself to be so motivated that I joined the Medical fraternity and specialised in becoming a urologist.’ 

Mbatha said it was important to stay humble and teachable at all times.

Words: Lunga Memela

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini