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Hi- I am late 50’s male and had an incidence of gross hematuria (Dec 30). My excellent fam physician suggested a pelvic ultrasound and lab tests. Ultrasound came back with at least three suspicious lesions in my bladder. One that is almost 3 cm. Radiologist recommend urgent CT and biopsy. I have a urologist as I also have low grade prostate cancer. Urologist booked a CT in mid-February and cystoscopy with biopsy (I assume) in late Feb. Does anyone have recent Calgary or Alberta experience on what is the normal wait times, cysto experience (local or general anaesthesia, rigid or flexible cysto, can they remove all (3+) lesions or is TURBT likely needed), any other diagnostic tests that are available in Calgary. I realize all cases are unique and they may not apply to my situation but any comments are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hi Sick_in_YYC
I am glad to see you were able to register and post. I hope one of our excellent moderators MarySue can chime in as she is based in Alberta and can relay some first hand experience.My Best,
Hello Sick_in_YYC
Sorry to hear that you may have bladder cancer. I still remember the very dark and scary days when I first encountered this disease. While I live in Quebec, and can’t comment on wait times in Alberta, you might find my wait times of interest for a comparison. First blood in the bowel Feb 16 2016; saw urologist Feb 23 and he took a urine sample; March 11, cystoscopy, two smaller tumours, doctor said urine sample indicated cancer; April 6 TURBT; biopsy a few days later, hi grade cancer T1; then mid May went on vacation to Europe. Unfortunately an August cystoscopy revealed a muscle invasive tumour. However after doing Trimodal Therapy December 2016 through June 2107, I have been cancer free ever since.
Note that I didn’t have an initial PET scan. As I understand it, a PET scan is to determine if there is cancer in parts of the body other than in the bladder. A cystoscopy, is to see if there are tumours in the bladder. Then a TURB is to remove the tumours followed by a biopsy to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer, to determine the stage and treatment if required.
You might consider contacting Bladder Cancer Cancer by phone to ask to speak to an Alberta Peer Support Volunteer for their experience. Also BCC has some booklets that help explain the basics of the bladder cancer experience.
Good luck,
derek
Thanks Derek. I am glad to hear that you are cancer free. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I will follow up on the Alberta Peer Support and see if a urine test for cancer will be done.
Hi Sick_in_YYC:
I’m based in Calgary and can tell you that you need to grill your urologist about the wait times. The general wait time for TURBT – surgery to remove bladder tumours is supposed to be 4-6 weeks. I had my first TURBT in 2008 and waited 8 weeks, second TURBT in 2010 and waited 9.5 weeks. I had my third TURBT in 2022 with a different urologist and got in within 4 weeks. What the wait times are like now with the increase of respiratory illnesses in Calgary I don’t know.
The usual process is some kind of diagnostic imaging, followed by a cystoscopy exam, followed by TURBT surgery. After the TURBT surgery when the tumours are removed, samples are sent to pathology and it is those results that determine next steps. If the tumours are cancerous and most are, the next steps are determined by how far the cancer has advanced. Early stage (Stage 0 or some Stage 1) may require follow up bladder treatments of BCG (immunotherapy) or Gemcitabine/Doxetaxcel (GEM/DOC) depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer. If the tumours have invaded the muscle wall of the bladder you may be looking at bladder removal surgery. As an FYI – many guys that have prostate cancer can have it go to the bladder and vice versa. A good question to ask your urologist is – did the cancer spread from my prostate to the bladder or is the bladder cancer a second primary cancer? It is important to know this because it may mean a difference in treatment protocol. Your doctor can answer those questions. The pathologist will be able to tell from what they see in the samples.
Most urologists use the flexible scope as it is far easier to tolerate and can be done with a local anesthetic in the urethra. Rigid scopes for guys are often done under a general which is why most are done with the flexible these days. They can do more patients in a day that way. As a female who has had both types of scopes I can only say that you will want the flexible. I don’t know if they do a biopsy at the same time as the cysto here in Calgary. Both my uros wanted me to have a TURBT surgery.
TURBT surgeries are more thorough anyhow because they cut into the muscle wall of the bladder to ensure they have a greater chance of getting it all. To do a biopsy during a cysto usually means that they will cut out a sample and fulgerate the site to blast off the rest of the tumour. Personally, I’d prefer the TURBT. It does a more thorough job.
If you do end up having to go for a TURBT surgery, you may be given a choice of a general anesthetic or a spinal. It would be wise to ask the anesthesiologist the pros and cons of each. They come to talk to you while you are waiting on the gurney in the hall outside the OR. All my dealings with Calgary anesthesiologists have been great. I’m a wuss when it comes to surgery, particularly in the nether regions so I ask to be knocked out.
Anyhow, I hope that my info helps. Don’t hesitate to post more questions and let us know how it goes. (((HUGS)))
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