TaG3 - 6 of one, how much of the other?

Posted by: jhs in Tis - Carcinoma in situ: "flat tumor", Ta - Noninvasive papillary carcinoma, mens issues on Dec 19, 2006 Print PDF

Hello everyone, and thank you again for your encouraging words and for sharing your own stories.

I had my post TURBT consult yesterday to go over the pathology report. Surprisingly decent results:

1 - The tumor, my doc said, was quite small and papillary, and there was no CIS.
2 - The tumor was Ta again - noninvasive.
3 - The grade of the cancer was G1, which surprised me. But the doc said it was, moreover, at the low range even of that.
4 - The doc said that, all in all, this instance can be considered to not be a meaningful recurrence.

He, as a result, has put me on the standard 3-month surveillance program, so next cyto is set for early March. (My wife is doing well, also; technically cured at this point.)

Mindful of some of the stories on these pages, and the surprising and sudden turns that this disease can take, I am not prepared to dedicate this holiday season to this particular result, nor to enshroud it with undue pessimism. What I will do, is be thankful for the one constant I draw from these pages, which is the ever-present spirit of grace and mutual support all of you take the time and strength to offer each other, as witnessed by those so many of you have offered to me and my wife.

Happy Holidays, everyone.
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Alyssa
December 20, 2006

Hi Jim

My heart was racing when I saw you had posted your pathology.  I am so gad that the cancer had not progressed.  I am also curious if you ever had your first slides reread in the states.  

Merry Christmas
Alyssa
jhs
December 20, 2006

Hello Alyssa,

Thank you so much for your note and your kind concern. I take your point about the slides. I did not bring the slides, although my Turkish doctor offered to send them with me. He did give me copies of the film of both of the TURB-Ts he did on CDs, which clearly showed the tumors he removed. I also asked my American doctors about whether or not I should have brought the slides, and their reaction was unanimous and immediate: no need. Turkish doctors, they explained, are as or more experienced with bladder cancer than doctors of any other nation, and are consistently and disproportionately represented as authors of journal articles in all the professional publications. Further, my symptoms, from the hematuria on, and test results, from the ultrasound and from all other sources were consistent with everything diagnosed and done. I must say I'm satisfied with their response to my questions, which were much like yours.

Thank you again, and Merry Christmas to you as well!
Rosemary
December 20, 2006

So glad to hear from you, Jim!

As they say, it could have been a much worse report.  I'm glad it wasn't.

I hope that you and your wife have a very Merry Christmas!

Rosemary (back in the States)
Christopher
February 07, 2007

Jim - Thanks for the congratulations on the tonsillitus.  Heh heh, my dad thought I had picked up a cootie from a new girl friend..   Would have taken a cootie over a cancer recurrance any day, luckily it turned out to be straight-forward tonsillitus!

Well, looks like we both have checks in early March... March will be my one year check.  I'm crossing my fingers for both of us!   I spoke with a gal this last summer who had a bout of bladder cancer 20 years prior, quit smoking and has never had a recurrance since.  So, I'm hopefull.

All we can do at this point is follow our treatment regiment and remain hopefull.  Sure does make you appreciate the time you do have more.. in that respect it has been sort of a blessing.  Hope you and the wife are well.

Chris

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