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Hi friends, my good friend is practically suicidal after being diagnosed with his first re-occurrence of Stage One. He’s desperate for some good news and examples showing this isn’t a death-sentence, can you help? Thanks!
Hi Ronaldo62
Sorry your friend has had a recurrence of bladder cancer. It is vital that your friend get a copy of the pathology report that reflects the actual stage and grade of the initial diagnosis and the recurrence. Many get confused regarding the stage of bladder cancer. Stage A means the tumor was just on the inside wall and has nor penetrated the lining (Stage 1) or the muscle of the bladder (Stage 2). The grading of the cancer is either low grade and high grade.
I was diagnosed in 2005 had 2 recurrences in 2006/7. My stage was TA low/med grade tumors and my recurrences were both TA low grade.
After several treatments of BCG I have been cancer free since November of 2007. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is treatable and bladder cancer in general is treatable even when the bladder needs to be removed.
If your friend would like to speak to a survivor that can be arranged through Bladder Cancer Canada. Just private message me.
All the best,
JackHello Ronaldo
Been there, done that and to put it politely, sure wasn’t any fun. I have had two recurrences so far but my last scope was an all clear. I still get warm and fuzzy over that.
Looking back with that wonderful 20/20 hind sight, this may be what your friend is going through: initial diagnosis one does the proverbial swinging from the rafters but then gets their poo back together enough so they don’t appear like a blithering idiot and then hang in there for the initial round with the hope that that is it and there won’t be any further cancer; recurrence happens and all the emotions that were bottled up to date come spilling, or should I say roaring out and, because you have been there once before, it is way easier to go back to that emotional rawness all over again. Many of us have been there but we survived and learned from it.
I made the choice not to go to that emotional and psychological state anymore. It is way too hard on me and takes up way to much time and energy that I could be putting into much better things such as living life to its fullest, appreciating every day and every sunrise and loving those that are around me. The real test came with my second recurrence and that it was high grade. I kept my promise to myself and was it ever easier to handle that recurrence.
Now that I have had one all clear, I am loving it. I realize there is every possibility that there could be another recurrence down the road but I will NOT let that cloud over my present warmth and fuzziness over one all clear. I just love the feeling I get with this. Life may not be able to hold me down to planet earth should I continue to get all clears over the rest of my life!
In the meantime, you friend needs to review the literature on this site. Do not spend time on other sites because they are real downers and leave you with the impression that your bladder will be gone next week and you will be dead the week after. Just not true.
Tell your friend to take a deep breath or two or three or four or a dozen. However many it takes. Then your friend needs to hug those he loves, have a good cry, talk to those he is close to, cry again if needed, breathe again, hug again and then find something to laugh about. Once you can laugh again you can start healing. Then, assuming you friend lives in California, spend a little time gloating about sunny and warm California while us up here are stuck in the cold and snow. Mind you, there is something almost magical about watching the sun sparkle off of pristine white snow. I do like to watch this. From the warmth of my house.
Take care
Hi Ronaldo62,
BC recurrence is common and is what makes it the most costly cancer to deal with. However, the good news is many who have had recurrences are survivors. I had 2 recurrences in the space of 12 months following the initial diagnoses. With the application of BCG treatments after each recurrence, I have been cancer free now for over 2 yrs…I see my urologists every 6 months to have my bladder checked.
As Jack has mentioned above, Bladder Cancer is treatable. And, the survival rate with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is very high. Having said that, nothing is more stressful than to here the word recurrence. The important thing is for your friend to keep in touch with you and try looking at the fact that stage one is a blessing rather than a life sentence. It is especially important that he focus on getting well and to keep a positive frame of mind which at times is tough to do…but, it is a must.
Wishing your friend the very best and importantly, a cancer free future…stay positive and it will help staying strong…
God Bless.
Rick
Hi Ronald ! For me the worst part of BC is psychological . Your friend needs to educate himself about the disease , things are less scary the more informed we are . Also , there is help out there for that aspect of our disease . I cannot too strongly advise your friend to do both . There is no shame in asking for help . This site is full of good advice from people who have been there , done that . We are here for him . BC knows no borders .
The other Rick
Hi Ronaldo
We are our own worst enemy in these situations. We let our minds run away unchecked, thinking ownly the worst possible outcomes.
getting all the facts is a excellent suggestion. It is a highly emotional time lots of ups and downs, having a calm voice in your ear, is agreat benefit.
Trying to deal with all the uncertainty is very challenging, the big fear we all have is the word REOCURANCE.One isuse at a time.We are here to help as best we can.Be strong for your friend.Wow, huge thanks to all of you wonderful folks responding to my post! My buddy seems to coping better after his recent procedure and I am
forwarding your kind messages. When I get more details about his case I will post them. God bless you all!I began passing blood in my urine over the Labour Day Weekend 2012 after some strenuous lifting. Thought it was attributable to having eaten a hot pepper that a friend had dared me to eat (seriously) and did not see a doctor as it cleared up after several hours. Two weeks later had another bleed and saw a doctor. Blood in urine and abnormal cells detected.
Further tests confirmed diagnosis of Carcinoma in situ or initial stage of bladder cancer. Surgery almost immediately and 6 sessions of BCG shortly after. Cystoscopy showed cancer still there. Another 6 sessions ordered. No problems with first 6 but felt like Shit during the second round. End result clear of cancer. Cystoscopy shows only scar tissue in area where cancer was detected. Cystoscopy reduced now to every six months from every four months and I am confident that the cancer is gone.
During BCG treatment a nurse asked me if I had been doing heavy lifting prior to my first bleed. It may have thankfully advanced my symptoms.
Great news Shifty that you have been all clear since the 2nd session of BCG treatments. Has your doc discussed maintenance BCG treatments with you? Seems to be the norm after being diagnosed with CIS which is high grade bladder cancer. You might want to ask him/her why no maintenance treatments.
I was diagnosed in 2005 had a recurrence in 2006 and 2007. Had 3 rounds of 6 weekly treatments and then 12 maintenance treatments. Been cancer free since the 2007 recurrence.
Wishing you all the best going forward,
BCG = Bladder Cancer Gone
JackHi Jack,
Maintenance with additional BCG has never been discussed. My original urologist retired last year and all he ever said to me was if I didn’t respond to the second session of BCG, he would have to remove my bladder. I have only seen my new urologist twice, during cystoscopy exams and maintenance has never been discussed as the tests, including cytology were negative. You can be sure, based on your experience, that I will discuss this with him during my next cystoscopy.
Hello Shifty
Won’t ask how you got the name.
In regards to blood in urine after heavy lifting, this is how my grandfather started his journey. He was trying real hard to ignore granny and her pestering/nagging to move the bed. Finally, he gave in and moved the bed. Blood in urine. Diagnosed cancer. After his doctor told him not to bother the doctor anymore as he was considered cured, grandpa lived another ten years and died of natural causes. He passed away in 1980 thus his cancer was probably before BCG and the protocol that goes with it.
I consider grandpa to have been a very lucky man: besides BC he was: gased in WW I; hit by a grenade in WW I (died with shrapnel still in his body); shot through the head in WW I and initially left for dead (doctor wrote in his file “shot clean through the head”); had rheumatoid arthritis so bad he couldn’t walk and had to have his toes amputated so he could walk again; was never caught and thrown in jail during his moonshine runnin’ years; survived his heart acting up in his early ’70’s (he had quit smoking after smoking for about 60 years so the doctor told him to start smoking again and his heart would settle down and it did); survived a few “explosions” in his blacksmith shop; survived his son in the blacksmith shop; survived granny ;-).
I will take the BCG and hope I have lots of my grandpa’s DNA in me!
Take care and have a little fun but not the kind that gets you the nick name “shifty”
Hahahahahhaha……. This post made my day. As for the the nickname “Shifty”, probably picked this up over 50 years ago when I lived at the end of Dewdney Ave in Regina for nine months. Call me Perry if you prefer. I guess I am a bit of a jokester as I used to wear crazy mismatched socks in the treatment room of the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa when receiving my BCG, The nurses would always look to see if my toes were wiggling when inserting the catheter to measure my level of discomfort. When I told them why I wore the mismatched socks I got a big smile from them.
Your grandfather must have been quite a guy and you obviously have his DNA. Here is a hint, wear colourful socks.
Hello Shifty
Having lived in Regina explains everything about your nick name.
I grew up in Saskatoon.
My grandfather also was fined because he lost his boots and again for losing his rifle in WW I.
Read all this info in his WW I file. Can get a copy of the file from the government. Makes for some interesting reading.
On second thought, Shifty sounds better than Perry but will cut you a break as you at least moved away from Regina. Still have memories of the taste of the water?
Take care
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