Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS

14 years 10 months ago #25673 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS
Doug,

I wonder why it was 10 hours. I had RC with neobladder and it took 7.5 hours. I thought one of the big advantages of the ileal conduit was shorter surgery....Ten hours is certainly not sure.

However, I did see you other post about going home in 4 days so that part was certainly good.

Best wishes for a continued speedy recovery!
Mike

Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...
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14 years 10 months ago #25656 by Blnmakerr
Replied by Blnmakerr on topic Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS
Just wanted to let everyone know that I had the RC and prostate removal surgery on April 30 at The Cleveland Clinic.

I was in surgery 10 hours and required three units of blood, but the surgery showed the cancer had NOT spread into the muscle layer and was NOT in the prostate. Dr. Brian Lane removed 40 lymph nodes and we will have the pathology report this Friday. I pray they are all cancer free and Dr. Lane is inclined to agree that they are...

I was discharged from The Clevelnad Clinic on Monday night so I was only in the hospitl for four days after surgery. So far I am getting a little stronger each day and am only taking Vicodin for pain. Most of my pain in in my lower back for some reason. How long before you begin to feel "like yourself again".....

Thank you for all the help and encouragement,

Blnmakerr
RC/Prostate Removal 4/30/09
Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Brian Lane
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14 years 11 months ago #25109 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS
Doug...possible that you meant Grade 3 not Stage 3?
Patients with stage III bladder cancer have cancer that invades through the connective tissue and muscle and into the immediate tissue outside the bladder and/or invades the prostate gland in males or the uterus and/or vagina in females. With stage III bladder cancer, there is no spread to lymph nodes or distant sites. Stage III bladder cancer is also classified as a "deep" or "invasive" bladder cancer.
And i agree..its a very personal choice but i will tell you not to be afraid of that 14" catheter...it doesn't go all the way in...mine goes in about 6 inches. It just gives you leverage and wiggle room in manipulating it. There are no nerve endings going to the pouch so the trickiest part in the beginning is knowing where the heck you are with it..but you eventually will feel a little pop on your fingers and Voila you're there. Its a bit intimidating at first as i feared i would go right through my new bladder to which the nurses had their first good laugh of the day and informed me i'd be the first to do that! But if you're not very tactile ..like my late husband who had a difficult time with an electric can opener than maybe the ileal is indeed the right choice. I have a latex allergy and wearing a bag would not have been a good choice for me...my skin even reacts to non-latex..what can i say!
Good luck whichever way you go...........Pat
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14 years 11 months ago #25108 by balihigh
Replied by balihigh on topic Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS
Waiting is definitely the hardest part. I was so depressed the weeks before my surgery. I just wanted to go ahead and get it over with. I had to be done so let's do it. But your surgery is not that far away. Keeping reading as much as you can and learning. That will help you.

Remember that I have the illeal conduit and if you have any questions, I will be happy to help you.
Balihigh

female 60
1/08 dx 4 tumors TURB
T1 G3
12 BCG + interferon
5/08 another tumor/TURB
9/08 RC illieal conduit
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14 years 11 months ago #25107 by Blnmakerr
Replied by Blnmakerr on topic Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS
Spent all day Wednesday at The Cleveland Clinic. We had a long appointment with the nurses in the Stoma Department where all the "ins & outs" (no pun intended) of both the Ileal conduit and Indiana pouch were discussed.

After all the discussions and our questions, we have 95% decided on the Ileal conduit. The primary reasons are it's simplicity, less time in surgery, less risk for post-op complication and I also don't think I could cath myself every two hours successfully....The cath we were shown was 14" long!

I know the choice of which urinary diversion is a very individual decision and I think we have made the right choice for now at least. Dr. Lane said I could wait until just before surgery to make the final decision. My surgery is scheduled for Aril 30 at 7:30 in the morning. My pre-op testing is April 24th.

We had some good news in our meeting with Dr. Lane. The cancer in the bladder has NOT invaded the prostate as yet; but the prostate is coming out during the RC. Dr. Lane also said there was discussions between he and the pathologist as to whether my cancer was stage 2 or 3 and they decided on stage 3 "just to be safe".....

I think with the help of everyone on the site we have come to grips with the cancer and the pending surgery. At this point in time I just want to get it over with and begin the task of healing and getting back to normal (whatever that is)....

Thank you again to all of you for your support and encouragement,

Doug
Blnmakerr
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14 years 11 months ago #25055 by balihigh
Replied by balihigh on topic Just diagnosed with stage 3 CIS
I had robotic surgery at Sloan and am very pleased with the outcome. Yes, the surgery was long but the recovery was much faster than others, I think. I had no staples or stitches for the incision, must be a small one to remove the bladder and it healed quickly. I was going grocery shopping within 10 days of my surgery and pretty much back to normal after 6 weeks. I wish you the best. The worst part is waiting for the surgery.
Balihigh

female 60
1/08 dx 4 tumors TURB
T1 G3
12 BCG + interferon
5/08 another tumor/TURB
9/08 RC illieal conduit
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