Member Blogs

Hi, my Name is Wendy and I am 51 years old. In April and September 2010 I presented with gross hermaturia. Went to my GP (general practioner) and after a urine test she prescribed an antibiotic for a UTI. After 2 days on both occasions the bleeding stopped. Then in February 2011 it started again. My GP again tested for an infection, gave me an antibiotic. After 7 days the appearance of blood had not subsided and my GP referred me to a Urologist.

I went to see the urologist and he suggested that I be booked into hospital as he would need to perform a cystoscopy and wanted me to have an IVP

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I have as of today reached the 1 year anniversary since my diagnosis. Stage 1, non muscle bladder cancer. I am 45 years old.

I underwent two resection/biopsies with mitromyicin and a 6 week induction with BCG. So far, a year later I am clean.

 I am wondering about others experience with the BCG treatment. I handled it well, with the first three treatments being a breeze and the last three being painful but tolerable. I did experience some mild flu like symptoms with my energy levels being low as my biggest complaint.  Now, 6 months after my last treatment I find I am experiencing flu like

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Muscle invasive TCC grade II-III/III with CIS T2N0M0

I was diagnosed with muscle invasive TCC in February 1995 after seeing a small amount of blood in my urine. I was 45 years old at the time. My urologist referred me to a Dr. Sagalowsky at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. After several tests and additional biopsies we decided to do a RC with neobladder construction. My surgery was on 4/7/1995 and the final report was T2N0M0 grade II-III/III TCC. Recovery went well and I was back at work in 60 days after returning home. My neobladder has been very good and at

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I am writing to ask for help. My husband had a radical cystectomy in June 2010 (prostrate and urethra also removed) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. He was in the hospital for 33 days for ileus (digestive system shutdown), and in August started 5 months of cisplatin-gemzar chemotherapy, which ended on Dec 8th. Does anyone have experiences with nausea lasting this long after chemo has ended? He has 1 or max 2 good days a week, when he's not even aware of his stomach. The rest of the time he is miserable. He is not actually vomiting, but very nauseated with sweaty palms and no

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My 78 year old father was diagnosed with a Stage 1 T1 Grade 3 tumor in Jul 2009. He successfully went through a TURBT and six BCG treatments with minimal side effects. In Mar 2010 he had a follow-on biopsy ... good news; no evidence of the cancer. Then he started BCG maintenance in May 2010. We had 3 treatments scheduled. After the second treatment he started shedding the lining of his bladder so we stopped treatment. Here is the issue: he has pretty significant burning when he urinates. This started with the BCG maintenance treatments in May and still continues today (3 months). He had

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Hi, please excuse what I can only describe as catharsis.

A Short History: 1999, I passed blood in my urine, went to hosptial, and had a urogram that revealled a poorly functioning right kindey (as I recall). I was diagnosed as having a kidney stone that had broken up in/near the kidney. Despite weeing through a sieve for a week I saw no stone (fragments). Followup urogram revealled a well functioning kidney. At no point do I remember the Urologist looking at my bladder.

In February 2010, following ambulatory monitoring for hypertension, I was referred by my Cardiologist for a urinary tract

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I'm a 47-year old female (non-smoker) who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in March 2010.  My pathology showed high grade papillary urothelial carcinoma with superficial invasion into the lamina propria.  I've gotten 3 opinions and my options are BCG therapy or cystectomy (neobladder).  I'm afraid to do the BCG therapy because of the the low cure rate and high return rate.  I know the cystectomy has a higher cure rate, but has a high rate of complications.  Does anyone have any advice for me?  I have 2 teenagers that need their

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Been a whole since I updated here.  I'm now 42 (41 when for Turb) and always been a non-smoker.  Had surgery Jan 22, 2009.  Ran through 6 weeks of BCG.
Started maintenance BCG in November.  We're going to do that every 6 months (or 3 months after every scope for two years then re-evaluate).  My tumor was classed as large, aggressive and high-grade.

About to do my last quarterly scope today.  We'll go to every six months after that.

 So far its been clean.

 Issues:

The scope has become a non-event.  I get a bit worked up before-hand, but the procedure is nothing to me.  I know when to relax, take

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Had my second RBT and am cancer free. Will be starting 6month, 3 week BCG  treatments in June.  Dr will do cystoscopy before the 1st treatment to make sure nothing coming back.

My new doctor is very thourough which really helps give me confidence that he will be able to keep this under control.

I am so relieved to have it all clear and can get on with my life.

Thank you to all who have been so supportive.

Carol

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Had my 6 BCG treatment yesterday. Went well.  Some blood, some pain when urinating. Pain is less this morning but urgency is still there. Drinking lots of water to flush the system.

Pat if you are there: My doctor is leaving area in 3 weeks and new Urologist won't he here until June so he is sending me to OHSU for followup treatments. All my information has been forwarded and they will be calling me to make appointments.

It is 100 miles from where I live, but have family and friends there so I will have a place to stay.

So will be getting to know a new doctor and since this is a cancer

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