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 I am a 53 year old female. Very healthy and very fit. I was diagnosed with upper tract bladder cancer in late March 2007 and had a nephrouterectomy a few weeks later in mid-April 2007. The kidney mass was 6 cm, Grade III, with some spread into the adjacent uterter. I was "all-clear" until my one year check-up, when "spots" were discovered in my bladder. Since then I have had an office visit procedure at 15 months with a cysto/fulgration/electrocautery with two small tumors removed, and an outpatient surgery at 18 months with a cysto/fulgration/laser with two more apparently larger tumors

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I finally made it through my 6 maintenance rounds with 3 postponements, and the last 3 BCG installations were 1/2 dose. I had my cysto on April 1st and was happy to learn that I was BC free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, again. ;D

I still have some BCG treatment side effects, and they are slowly getting better. Biggest problem now is still the instant urge to void without any warning and pain if I don't immediately void. My Uro said that while the bladder looked fine, he felt that I was still affected by the BCG. Next cysto in 3 mos. (39 more to go). :o

Sure seemed like this last 8 mos. has been a fast

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Wed., March 12, 2008, I finally ENJOYED my final BCG maintenance installation. Cysto follow-up (2nd one) scheduled for April 1st. All of my strange long term symptoms have disappeared since my last 3 BCG treatments where 1/2 dose, except for one new symptom. Now, when I have to void, it is instantly without warning, and accompanied by pain.

The 1/2 doses of BCG still yielded blood, considerable amount of tissue, and significant pain on treatment days. Ibuprofen usually was able to moderate the pain.

Take care all... :)

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Last post I left off with my upcoming maintenance BCG scheduled for Feb. 13th, 2008. Went in for the treatment, advised the treatment nurse of my persistent irritation in the bladder area, with no specific urinary side effects. The treatment nurse spoke with the oncology nurse, who in turn spoke with the (invisible) oncologist, and they decided to delay treatment again (3rd week in a row). They also did another urine test (that came back negative on Friday, Feb 15th). I asked to see the oncologist, to discuss BCG dose options, and turns out the oncology nurse said that was not possible that

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Just a clarification on my original storyboard post. The T1G3 results did not arise from my 1st cysto in August. They were provided to me in late Sep. 2007 after the TURB. Sorry about that...

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I was 52 in Nov 2006 when I first experienced visible blood in my urine. Family Dr. was quick to pass it off as an infection. A few days of antibiotics, and it was gone. No other symptoms. Interestingly, it was the 1st time I had a digital for the prostrate, and apparently it was fine.

Fast fwd. to Aug. 4th 2007. Our 2 week vacation plan was bought and paid for, my two daughters and my wife looking forward to the excursion. Then 8 hours before the 4:30AM flight , I had blood in the urine again. This time it was so red it was nearly black. Okay, should I do the guy thing and ignore it, or....

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lol, yes, I am male...thanks for pointing that out Zach... ;)

And thanks for the kind words Rosemary and Wendy...I am looking forward to some good news on August 22/07. 

Your new friend,

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Hello All,

My name is Gerry.  I am 38 years old, and was diagnosed in the fall of 2006 with bladder cancer.  I wanted to share my experience with this forum, as I have found this forum to be very helpful and informative.

I am a very fit guy, but I did smoke for over 20 years.  That's what did it for me I think.  I have not smoked since the diagnosis, needless to say.

My initial symptoms were blood in the urine.  I went to see a local walk-in clinic doctor, who then presribed antiboitics for infection.  Of course, the bleeding only got worse, so he recommended I see my family doctor.  My family

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I got my initial path reports today from 2006, initial diagnosis.

This is what I would have to describe as "pathology whiplash".

That is where you go from Point A to Point Z too quickly for your body and mind to catch up with you.

As an epilogue to these pathologies, when I went for muscle biopsy at UNC in May 2006, my cancer was [i]"POOF[/i]"  [b]GONE[/b].  I began BCG treatments in June 2006.  No recurrances.

When I was at Chapel Hill in May for biopsy, I was told that there were two muscle biopsies performed by my Doctor that day for T1 G3 bladder cancer.  The other guy wasn't as "lucky".  He

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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

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