what to expect

12 years 4 months ago #40230 by DougG
Replied by DougG on topic what to expect
Hi Annie,

I was just thinking about you and wondered how your day went. Hope it went well.

Anita

Anita
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12 years 4 months ago #40198 by pemquid
Replied by pemquid on topic what to expect
I had my first TURBT under light general anesthesia (outpatient), and had no need for a catheter. I went home in a few hours. However, my tumor was smaller than yours. In addition, after the surgery the urologist was 99% certain it was low grade and noninvasive, which was confirmed later by the pathology report. One thing to keep in mind is that a second TURBT is highly recommended, after you've healed somewhat from the first one, in order to make sure the initial surgery got the whole tumor and also to verify the original pathology report. (Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for bladder cancer to be "understaged" at the time of the initial TURBT.)

Best of luck!

Ann

Small TA Grade 1, May-06; recur (2 tiny), same, June-08; TURBTs both times. BCG begun July-08, dosage to 1/3rd May-10, completed treatment December-11. All clear since 2008.

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12 years 4 months ago #40194 by annie
Replied by annie on topic what to expect
Sara Anne,
You think you're confused? (insert joke here!)
I sorta had a worse case scenerio with the first Urologist. Again after 6 months of doctor visits and GYN procedures, I made my first appt on 11/10/2011 with female Urologist. I really liked her and after she got sample from bladder she came back in the room and said I needed a CT scan pronto because of gross hematuria and lots of white blood cells. She used the collective "we'll need to see you in a couple days" and didn't tell me that I was her last patient in Texas. She moved to MN the next day! The next day I got the CT scan 11/11/2011 and come Monday morning her office called and said they needed to see me that afternoon for cystoscopy. They then told me the size of tumor. I didn't like the way I was treated by that particular office (thought they should have told me earlier about her leaving) so I made appt for new urologist on 11/18/2011. This DR and his P.A. went over the CT results and the collective opinion was cystoscopy 8am with same day TURB in hospital but as out patient. I'm thinking this is best case scenerio...that it is early, small, wham bam.
Thank you for your input....

T1
N0
M0

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12 years 4 months ago #40193 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic what to expect
Annie, I am a little confused as to exactly what procedures you will be doing. A cystoscopy allows the uro to see the bladder and see what might be going on. This is usually done in the urologist's office, and is usually "no big deal." (Says she having had MANY of these.) However, for a biopsy that would include enough tissue to analyze and to check for muscle involvement, should there be a tumor, it is usual to have a TURB under general anesthesia.

It would take a few days usually for the pathology results to come back after the TURB, and, should the results indicate muscle involvement or very high grade tumor, discussion would be held as to where to go from there. IF this is this case, it might not be a bad idea to get a second opinion from a really top bladder cancer center (MD Anderson?) before making life-changing decisions.

After a cystoscopy, you may feel a little uncomfortable...I usually have an urge to pee for about an hour, and then am back to normal. After a TURB, I am mostly groggy from the anesthesia and a little uncomfortable again. Back to normal the next day. Have never required a catheter, but individuals vary. Most of the "horror stories" you read on this Forum are from MEN. For once, women have it much easier since nature did not bless us with a prostate, which causes much discomfort (I am told).

Hope this helps...I may have misunderstood the procedures you are facing, but this is the usual.

Good Luck!

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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12 years 4 months ago #40192 by annie
Replied by annie on topic what to expect
Wow! Thank you guys so much! I guess, though I think I know a lot of info for a lay-person, it still hasn't sunk in that Bladder cancer is..well... cancer! Does that make sense? I guess I'm not sure if my urologist is the end all. If he doesn't suggest an oncologist, should I seek one on my own? At this point I know it can go two ways. Either immediate TURBT or the bigger more complicated surgery if the tumor is invasive.
I just printed some info on the catheterization process so I 've got more reading to do. That is new to me and hence the fear.
I accept your good energy and wishes. Thanks again.
Annie

T1
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M0

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12 years 4 months ago #40190 by rbmc
Replied by rbmc on topic what to expect
Hi Annie. Glad to hear you're on the right track, unfortunately it's BC. You'll soon have a better idea which directions to proceed. Let's give you positive thoughts 11/21. My first visit was a Turbt, and went home wearing the bag for 10 days. After the first day of shock & recovery, was right back to work. Using the bag system was not a comfortable procedure. Opps, a male here. If interested, my newbie story is appearing under non-invasive, "Joining the BC Club". We wish you the best.

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