Transitional Cell Carcinoma, Late Stage 2

I went to the bathroom around 2 am and saw that the toilet bowl was filled with bright red fluid. The next day I went to see my family doctor. He sent me to a hospital 35 miles away to have xray with and without dye. Due to a bad back (two partial laminectomies 5th lumbar) I had a bad time laying on my back on the table. About 20 minutes after getting home my family doctor called and told me that I had a tumor in my bladder and he had an appointment with a urologist the next day. I went to see him and he said he needed a biopsy and he did it in the hospital the next day. He also noted a sore I had under my left eye and had another doctor come in and look at that. It was decided that it was a tumor also. The results of the biopsy showed a stage 2 tumor about to go to stage 3 and it was n4. My doctor said that meant that is was a very virulent type of cancer. He also told me that TCC metastasises at stage 1. He wanted to take out my bladder and build a neobladder from my intestines. But first they had to remove the tumor from under my left eye and then wait 8weeks for that to heal so it would not interfere with the tape they would have to put on my eyes during the cystectomy. The cystectomy was done Oct 29,1999 and tood 9and 1/2 hours.I was in intensive care for 2 days. I have never had to have either chemo or radition therapy, and have been cancer free for almost 6 years now. I have experienced some problems with the neobladder and have to wear a catheter all the time now. But I am still cancer free and would like everyone to take heart from my experience and I hope that the same can be said for all in this group. I am just now joining this group because I just found out about it.