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June 5, 2019 at 2:28 pm #35718WPParticipant
Hi everyone, I was recently diagnosed with high grade TCC bladder cancer. I have started chemotherapy ( GC ) regiment. I have just completed cycle one. Prior to the treatment I had a PET scan that confirmed the same results has my previous CT scan that the cancer hadn’t spread to my lymph nodes. I was told initially that the cancer had slightly invaded my prostate when first diagnosed. I believe that surgeon removed what he could during the Turpt and Turb. I scheduled for 3 more cycles then off to Vancouver for a RC.
Looking for some encouragement. Hoping that percentages are in my favour.
WP
June 8, 2019 at 8:43 pm #35744Rick BParticipantHi WP,
Thanks for connecting to BCC. The people here are very helpful and will respond to your questions as best they can…typically, we have no medical background or experience/training.
I am a 6 yr cancer free BC patient…mine was low grade / medium grade at the outset due to low grade tumor & CIS. I had a routine BCG treatment (6 x wks) after each TURBT (3 in all).
Your PET scan and prostate invasion results are positive so stay focus on those results. You mentioned you are soon off to Vancouver for a RC. I am not that experienced but a RC based on your comments seems odd. Maybe I misunderstood you comments…I wish you well in all future procedures…stay positive…stay focused on the positives too…
God Bless.
Rick
June 10, 2019 at 3:04 am #35752SJayParticipantGood luck to you WP. Vancouver General has some very experienced docs in their urology dept so you should be in good hands. Let us know if you have any specific questions. There is already a lot of info if you browse or search the forum threads.
I presume the RC is because the cancer is high grade and has spread beyond the bladder wall and cannot be treated with NMIBC protocols. The 4 cycles of Gemcitobine/Cisplatin neoadjuvant chemo gives a small bump to survival rates, so it seems appropriate. This is the way my cancer was treated. In my case no cancer was found in the bladder, prostate, margins or lymph nodes in the post-op pathology report, so the chemo did a good job.
Stephen
June 10, 2019 at 10:36 am #35754WPParticipantHi, I appreciate both your comments. Both surgeons I spoke to both recommmended Neoadjuvant chemo to bump the survival rate. They also said with the chemo and then the surgery there is definitely a reason to be hopefull about the long term outcome.
I was no doubt very worried when I read about the survival rates that I found on different sites.
The Oncologist and the Urologist both told me not to pay attention to what I read and to stay positive that there are a lot of survivors out there with similar stories.
‘Thank you Stephen I’m obviously looking for all the encouragement I can get.
WP
June 10, 2019 at 2:20 pm #35755SJayParticipantWP
Staying positive is one of the best things you can do for yourself, so I think you were given good advice. There are a lot of things here you don’t have control over, but you can control how you deal with all of this. I would park near the cancer centre and walk to my treatment rather than park in the adjacent car park. If I was tired, I walked more slowly than usual but I tried not to take the attitude that I was an invalid and needed to avoid doing anything physical. (There are lots of people who will encourage you to act like an invalid so, in my opinion, you have to ignore them.) In my off week of the cycle I even went skiing. I only lasted an hour or so, but what was important is that I went. If nothing else, this makes everything more enjoyable for you and those supporting you. I’m 3 years past my RC and everything looks good.
Stephen
June 10, 2019 at 4:39 pm #35758WPParticipantThanks Stephen, I’m glad to hear how well you are doing. I really appreciate your encouragement and advise.
January 22, 2020 at 3:14 pm #37667WPParticipantWP. Hello everyone. Further to my post of June 5th. I completed my chemotherapy the middle of August. The side effects weren’t to bad. The CT scan after the chemo treatments showed no further spreading. I had my surgery in Vancouver the middle of Sept. The RC surgery went very well. According to the Uro-Oncologist that performed the surgery the pathology report was very good. No trace in the lymph nodes. He was very pleased.
I have my first follow up in a couple of weeks. I’m having trouble despite the promising results staying positive.
Does anyone have any suggestions or words of wisdom.
Thank you
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