Have they given you instructions...ie, no food or water after midnight...that are
typical for anesthesia? It is possible that they are going to do a TURB since they suspect a tumor.
SA
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Thanks, Ann, for your explanation. On the other hand, they know I have a small mass there from a CT scan. That's why I thought they should be doing biopsy right away. It's my first appointment with an urologist, but it will take place in a hospital.
If it is a "cystoscopy" that you are scheduled for, it is very unlikely that any biopsy samples will be taken. A cystoscopy allows the urologist to look inside the bladder with a small camera and see what might be in there...such as a tumor. If there IS a suspicious place, the next procedure is usually a "TURB"
or transurethral resection of the bladder which is done under anesthesia....I am pretty sure you don't want them cutting out samples without anesthesia!! (Although occasionally a VERY SMALL biopsy is done that way.)
During a TURB the urologist tries to get all of the suspected tumor if possible, as well as samples of the adjacent tissue/muscle to see how far it has spread if it turns out to be malignant. Only after the pathology report comes back will the urologist and you be sure of what you are dealing with.
As for how fast TCC (transitional cell carcinoma..the most common bladder caner) can grow...that depends on whether it is "high grade" or "low grade" and you will not know that until the biopsies come back. Low grade TCC can remain unchanged for quite a while.
Will be thinking good thoughts for you. Please let us know how you do.
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
A small mass was seen on a ct scan. I have a cystoscopy next Monday. What should I expect? A small piece of the mass will be cut off or the whole mass will be cut off or what else? Can they remove the whole thing without knowing what it is? I am in chemotherapy for another cancer (lymphoma). How much does tcc grow in 6 months? Is it a slow cancer? My ct showed that the mass did not change in 6 months.
