Member Blogs

Part IV

My urologist returned in January. He was unaware of what had happened until I spoke to him. His response was that he was not concerned about the stricture. "The important thing was to be sure that there was no cancer." I fully understood his focus on the cancer but was unhappy that that focus appeared to be distracting him from dealing with a problem that made me miserable and which I wanted to be sure would not recur. I answered, "I'm glad you're not worried about the stricture, but I am!" He assured me that he would treat the stricture with laser at the next cystoscopy. A urine

Comment (26) Read More...

Part III

When you learn that you have cancer, it changes you for ever. Every clean bill of health is a celebration, and an invitation to go back to living, but... waiting once more for the ticking time bomb, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And then, there are complications of treatment that never let you forget.
I thought that my bladder cancer was the worst thing that ever happened to me, but I was wrong. Two years ago, just after my mother's 83 birthday, she developed leukemia. She quickly went from an independent woman with her own apartment and car to assisted living. Her doctors were

Comment (0) Read More...

Part II

I took my catheter out and prepared to enjoy my recovery with all my problems behind me. I had my first Christmas celebration with gifts and stockings since my daughter's boyfriend wasn't Jewish and the kids wanted to do it. Of course, we threw a little Hanukkah Gelt into the stockings to make it ecumenical. The hooks for the stockings are still screwed into the mantle. Then we went out to the movies. I almost drove us into some wrong way traffic - maybe still under the influence of anesthesia. I made it through the movie without having to go to the rest room, but afterwards, I had a

Comment (0) Read More...

I was diagnosed with Papillary Carcinoma (G1pTa) in June of Last year.

I have undergone a TURBT at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. A 1 cm tumour was removed, and a one off installation of Mitomycin-C was given. As I was catheterised, I spent 1 night in hospital, and was released the next morning. I then spent a long, long week awaiting my pathology results. My consultant being a very cautious man sent me for an IVU. Fortunately that showed no involvement with my kidneys or ureters.

So far my check cystoscopies have been clear-long may they continue.

I consider myself to be very lucky.

Comment (1) Read More...

Thank you all for your expressions of concern and encouragement.

I had my TURBT on Thursday. Will know the results at the follow-up consult when we get the pathology report. My doc also administered Mitomycin during the procedure.

Earlier in the week, during the pre-op consult, we discussed the implications of this recurrence. He said that if it turned out to be T1 (he is in the camp that considers T1 to be invasive) we'd have to begin consideration of bladder removal. If it remains Ta, then we can look at BCG maintenance therapy, given the particulars of my history with this disease.

I showed

Comment (2) Read More...

I had a TUR in Sept, then 8 tx of mitomycin.  First 2 three month cystos were good.  Then this last one showed tiny recurrence and Doc removed it in the office.  Now 8 more tx's and these are the ones that I am having a problem with.  But, all in all, I am doing well.  Just upset about not being able to hold for 2 hours.  One day at a time, one tx at a time.

Comment (1) Read More...

Thank you.  It's the Mitomycin.  I couldn't hold it both because of buning and urge.  Thanks for the reply. It makes me feel

Comment (1) Read More...

I am new to this and have a question re: mitomycin.  Anyone out there have a problem holding the medication for the 2 hours?  I haven't had a problem in the past but w/latest round cannot hold for the full 2 hours.  Am also having quite the cystitis with it.  Anyone with similar experience?  It makes me feel quilty not to be able to hold for full 2 hours.
Thanks for

Comment (2) Read More...

Superficial-stage 1.

Went thru another poke and peek--clean now for over 14 months. Hopefull the TCC is a thing of the past. Got my fingers crossed.

Now I am facing a different cancer--adenocarcinoma of the prostate. I am scheduled for a radical prostatectomy on May 6. The Doc was shocked--my PSA was only 0.08. Oh well, I suppose this is what life is all about.

June 9, 2004
I have been clean from the BC for 15 months. No "poke and peek" until Oct. 13. But did a radical prostectomy last month for the adenocarcinomaof the prostate. Believe me, it was a real "bitch". Worse than any TUR or

Comment (0) Read More...

Bladder tumor found growing into lamina propria with CIS in rest of bladder. Grade I or II of III.

I was diagnosed with bladder cancer at age 35 in 1994. I had blood in the urine and could actually feel the tumor for some reason. My doctors cannot understand this. I had a TURBT with multiple biopsies and was found to have CIS and the tumor was growing into the lamina propria. Cystectomy was advised. I refused at that point opting for BCG, Mitomycin C and Adriamycin. I am also a patient at UCLA Med Ctr but have not been back in a few years as my last two biopsies show dysplasia only. Most

Comment (0) Read More...