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Hi guys just curious….not at this stage yet but with Bladder Cancer and Bladder removal at what point do they call you “cancer free” or in “remission”. I am unsure of the use of the terms and when they apply them. Just curious. Maybe they don’t any longer….anyone know?
Here are a couple of links that explain the difference.
Remission: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/remission-what-does-it-mean
Cure: http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/cancer-basics/understanding-statistics-used-guide-prognosis-and-evaluate-treatment
In both caes 5 years seems to be the magic time frame, although some cancers, including bladder cancer can recur after 5 years.
Hope this helps,
JackI asked my uro that question at my cysto check last year and he wouldn’t answer it directly. I think due to the unpredictable nature of BC they don’t like to declare a person cancer free or cured on the off chance it comes back and then their words would come back to bite them in the b***. Bladder cancer as mentioned (and I know some people that this has happened to) can all of a sudden re-emerge its ugly head after several years of being cancer free. That being said, I’m almost 6 years cancer free and think of myself as “cured”. To me to say “remission” means that you expect it to come back at some point and as far as I’m concerned it’s gone. Thinking this way helps me stay positive and what works for me. It is not necessarily the correct way for everyone.
Hello
Am relatively knew to BC but am the 6th one in my family and the most recent. From my understanding, once you have BC you are monitored for life. I am quite fine with this: each scope confirming one is cancer free and if not cancer free, then it is caught early. Can’t get better than that. For someone that has lost their bladder, I think they are screened for life also but you would need to check with others that know better than me on this one.
On the other side, I know of one person that has been told he doesn’t need scopes anymore. Went long enough in the clear and is old enough that the doctor doesn’t believe there is a risk anymore. My grandfather was also given an all clear in his old age and told he didn’t need to come back for further screening. Both these people had their bladder.
Take care
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