Sorry to see you here, but welcome anyway!
Will try to answer at least some of your questions. First, "RPG" stands for a "retrograde pyelogram," which is an xray technigue which uses a dye to allow the urologist to check the flow of urine from the kidneys to see if anything is obstructing it. He will be checking to see if the kidney stone is causing any problems in this area.
The TURB (transurethral resection of the bladder) is both a way to remove as much of the suspected tumor as possible and a way to obtain tissue to send to the pathologist for a complete diagnosis. It is done as an outpatient but under general anesthesia. After the TURB the urologist may have a pretty good idea of what you might be facing, but the complete picture will not be available until he and you get the pathologist's report....and this can take up to a week or so. Immediately after the TURB the urologist will probably wash the bladder with mitomycin, which is a chemo agent. How you will be feeling after the TURB depends on a lot of things, including how much tissue the urologist needs to "scrape" or cut out, how deeply he needs to go, and the location of the samples he takes. In my case, I just woke up and went home and resumed normal activities. Sometimes, and more often with males, the patient may go home with a catheter which is taken out in a day or so. You probably won't feel like riding a horse for a day or so!!
As for what the future holds, you will know better once the path report is back. If the tumor is small and low grade, treatment may only consist of frequent visits to the urologist for cystoscopy...about every three months...because bladder cancer has a bad habit of returning, requiring constant vigilance. If the tumor is high grade (which means that it is rapidly dividing and has the potential to spread) your urologist may recommend BCG treatments, which are very do-able, but may cramp your style for a couple of days at a time. Just remember that bladder cancer, if found early, is very treatable.
After the TURB and the path report, which you should get a copy of, you and the urologist can have a thorough discussion of what the options are as well as what your future might hold. At that point, I would think, you will need to decide whether to pursue a second opinion,. I suspect that other members will chime in on this subject.
A couple of things to remember...yes, smoking is one (just one) possible cause of bladder cancer, but many people who have never smoked nor been exposed to any of the other suspected causes also show up with bladder cancer. There is no point in worrying about that now, since the horse is out of the gate, so to speak. And, as I mentioned above, early bladder cancer is very treatable. Even if it is not caught early, it is possible to lead a very full and satisfying life.
Wishing you all the best, and please keep us informed. I know that you must have all sorts of questions popping up so feel free to ask and someone here will be able to help.
Sara Anne