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hi…well I am posting for the first time..yes I have bladder cancer..underwent 3 treatments – BCG–not having anything nice to say about that!!!! Seeing another doctor in edmonton next week..plan for RC. Hoping that is right around the corner. looking forward to sharing and reading other people’s troubles, trials, and news of conquering this blasted-awful-bladder cancer!!! saying in advance..Nice to meet you…..
Hi Shelly nice to meet you too. Sorry you had problems with the BCG treatments and now having your bladder removed.
Many here have experienced what you are about to go through.
We have several females that have different diversions and can assist you with any questions you may have. This can be accomplished here on the forum, via personal email, or by telephone.
Wishing you all the best,
JackWelcome Shelly and sorry to hear about your situation. Talk and ask more as well as get a second doctor’s opinion might help you better understand your options. I wish you the best!
Hey Shelly sorry I am coming late to the party – er, well, not really a party is it? Did you get a copy of your pathology report? That would be a real help for you in understanding your diagnosis and future treatment options. RC is not something to be taken lightly (not implying that you are) as it is about the most major cancer surgery that exists due to the number of organs involved and the long recovery period and new normal that you have to get used to. Of course, having said that, it is do-able and you can thrive afterwards as many here (including me) can attest. Glad you are seeing another doctor. Hope it is at a major cancer centre and the doctor does a lot of these surgeries. That is pretty key! We are here to support, answer non medical questions, share experiences, suggest, encourage, and listen. Oh, and we also make it our goal to make you laugh on occasion as it seems really true that “laughter is the best medicine.” And even this disease has its funny moments – trust me!
Al the best. Please keep us informed of your progress.
Gregjust curious if anyone has been told you also have glandular differentiation—along with your diagnosis of bladder cancer…Kind of not sure what this is, and what it all means. any help will be sincerely appreciated. thanks
shellyWelcome to our site Shelly but sorry that you have reason to be here. Gladular differentation means that there is some presence of squamous cells in addition to the usual urotheliel carcinoma. For details on how serious this is I strongly recommend that you have a serious conversation with the Edmonton uro and get a full understanding of that and the implications of an RC in your case. You want to be sure that the decision to go for an RC is the best solution for you and that you are not reacting out of fear, panic and/or anger. I had a tough time with BCG but am glad that I stuck it out. When I had a reoccurence in 2010 I was tempted to discuss an RC with my uro rather than continue with BCG but when I learned of the extensiveness of the surgery and the long recovery time I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and powered through the treatments. I hope that you are aware that most docs when doing an RC will take out more than just the bladder. In men they often take the prostate and abdominal lymph nodes out and in women it is even more extensive with the removal of the ovaries, uterus and part of the vagina and lymph nodes. This is in additon to the reconstructive surgery which will vary depending on the option you choose. It is not always necessary to remove everything but doctors vary widely on their opinions of this and if you are dealing with a doc that would opt for a “clean sweep” and remove everything you are in for an extensive recovery. In women that means they will go through surgical menopause on topo of everything else. I had a very rough regular menopause with it coinciding with BCG treatments and having very unbalanced hormones so I wouldn’t want to experience the surgically induced version. I hope that my info helps. Best wishes and keep us informed.
Hi Marysue
I really appreciate your response and explanation of this. I have since done a lot of reading on it..there is some good, reliable information out there..considering this is somewhat of an oddity!!.. I am having another surgery on January 9th in Edmonton…he just wants to take another scraping, and all that. Then wait 2 weeks for the path report. So I guess we all will have a decision or two to make at that time. I appreciate your thoughts and recommendations of “getting through the BCG”…but all honestly be told…If I am going to endure any suffering/discomfort it is going to be in the fact that I will not have to worry about anymore “recurrance”…I would just as soon face reality sooner than later. It’s like prolonging the inevitable!!! So on December 10, that will be the very last of BCG ever ever again!!!!!! We did spend a lot of time talking about the RC surgery…and yes by no means is it an easy surgery to endure….I have already had a hysterectomy..so that part is done with and over…and I lived quite comfortably getting rid of that pain and pain it was!!!! Now..the same with the bladder..if it’s do-able to live without..do it…is it easy..no…there will be many trials and tribulations with the recovery process and the coping skills to learn how to live the rest of your life with a bag…but I have grasped that concept more easily than having to deal with the worry of a reocurrance of the cancer coming back into the bladder. My thoughts ..if the cancer is just contained to the bladder..why give it or yourself that chance of it coming back or going somewhere else…that is not living cancer free in my eyes!!! Just get rid of it..and then deal with the consequences of living without it…but living cancer free!!!!!!!!! So I guess I have my mind in a place where if the surgery..RC..is the best choice…I have already got my head wrapped around that concept!!..and it’s not such a huge surprise after all.Hi my name is Terry , and I’m new to the site.I have B-Cancer , and been
Throu 8 rounds of chemo.Pre and post turbs.Need one last CT-scan still
To come.I Thought I had made my decision, on a neo-badder and now I
Seem to be second guessing myself.I have looked at the options and
Post-op info.I guess my brave face thru all this so far is now turn alittle chicken !!!!!!. Feb. 19.I have my final surgical consult, family will be there
Hi Greg Neely we last spoke on the phone early Jan.Hi Terry. Welcome to this site, although I am sorry for the circumstances. Your post will most likely be moved to start its own thread. You will find lots of information from our members, because chances are that regardless of your situation, someone here has been through it. Which decision are you are second guessing – I assume it is the type of diversion you will get after your bladder is removed? Do you need more information on the various types of diversions? We can offer you details on what it is like to live with each type. What I will also say is that regardless of the type of diversion, you will adjust to it, and over time, life will return to almost normal. The key thing to keep in mind is that your goal is to beat the cancer, even if you have to make some lifestyle adjustments to do it. Please let us know how we can help. That’s what we are here for.
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