Now yet diagnosed. Have 6 cm tumor. TURB 10/30

Rich,

You and me seem to be in the same boat, you are just further along. I am an engineer also (Electronics), veteran. I am 62 and the VA Hospital is the one here in Dallas. I have only spoken to the surgeon once and I will see him tomorrow. I now have lots of questions.

Because of the tumors size, ( 2.3 inches) and my symptoms. Dead tired, hurt between my legs on and off for a year (thought it was my BPH, swollen prostate). Finally convinced my 80 year old VA urologist to image me. He said he felt something wrong this last digital exam and for the first time I have a little blood in the urine. Bladder cancer is very sneaky.

I am expecting T3a. Invasive, thru the muscle wall. Complete removal of my bladder ( hope that do bladder reconstruction)and of course chemo and CCG.

T-Cell killed my father in 9 months in 1987. I took care of him. He waited until it was making his back hurt before he went to the local county hospital. There was little they could do. I gave him morphine until he died.

I am trying to be very optimistic. 2.3 inch tumor is big. Pee every two hours.

larry

Larry (and FYI my name is Rich - i.e. Richard) - good question. I don't recall any groin or leg pain before the TURBT but I did have it afterwards; my urologist said that was just a consequence of the procedure since the musculature is pretty "tightly connected" down there. What I recall before the TURBT (and even before the diagnosis of cancer - before the CT scan found it) was a feeling of fatigue and listlessness, which the doctor also told me was not uncommon when you have a tumor growing inside of you. Sorry I can't shed any more light on that subject!

Old Engineer,

My name is Larry. Did you have pain between your legs? I hurt on the left side of my leg next to my groin and my groin. The Turb is in two weeks, 10/30. Visit with the surgeon tomorrow again.(preop). I am taking 10 mg Hyrdocodone/6 hours for a prior back surgery so that masks some of the pain.

Larry

Sorry that I did not notice the date of the TURBT in your title line - 10/30, so 16 days from now. For what it is worth, my tumor was found by imaging 8/14 and I had my initial TURBT 8/21, a week later. May I ask, which VA medical center is doing the surgery, and how experienced are they (and your urologist) in doing them? The key is always to get an experienced, knowledgeable urologist and facility, that has done many of these procedures not just a few. Your tumor size is relatively large so that argues even more for a very experienced doctor and facility.

Very sorry to hear about your condition, but you are in the right place, the key now is to get the transurethral resection (TURBT) done as soon as possible so that the tumor is removed and can be evaluated (low or high grade), and the staging of the tumor can be evaluated (superficial or invasive and if so, to what degree). I am a veteran too so I know the VA can be difficult to deal with at times; honestly, the sooner the better to get that surgery (the TURBT) done. You will be anesthesized so will be fully "out." I have gone through two of these in the past two months so (sadly!) am a "veteran" of this too, just like almost everyone else on this forum. Take a look at my posts on this subject (I started a thread under "newly diagnosed"), it recounts my experience in some detail, hopefully that will be useful to you. And as always, ask questions, we are here for you.