Test for cancer cells in urine

12 years 4 months ago #40206 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic Test for cancer cells in urine
I suggest going back to Dr. Koch. He's a top doc for bladder cancer and a top surgeon for cystectomies and diversions.

You are correct that sitting back is not the right approach. T2 means get it out. It's just a matter of deciding what diversion you want at this point.

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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12 years 4 months ago #40204 by Groucho Marx
Replied by Groucho Marx on topic Test for cancer cells in urine
So what do I do, ask my personal care physician to refer me to an urologist that will scope me or a pet scan rather than assure me what a fine thing replacement bladders are?

If I don't go with the new bladder, I still need to do more than just sit back and wait for it to come back and kill me.

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12 years 4 months ago #40188 by rbmc
Replied by rbmc on topic Test for cancer cells in urine
Hope this turns out better than it sounds? I changed doctors too.

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12 years 4 months ago #40177 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic Test for cancer cells in urine
Here are a couple of quotes from an article that can be found at this link: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/481628

(It requires registration but it is free).


With that said, when I had my recurrence (two years after initial diagnosis and treatment) it was the NMP22 test that showed something was there when the doctor couldn't see anything with the scope. So, it seems like having both done on a regular basis after initial diagnosis (every three months) is prudent and is considered the standard of care in the NCCN bladder cancer treatment guidelines.

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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12 years 4 months ago #40174 by dieseldoc
Replied by dieseldoc on topic Test for cancer cells in urine
My urine tests never showed cancer cells, even when I had 5 tumors. I even took them samples that were bright red and had large blood clots. When I finally got referred to a uro that knew what was going on he didn't even want a sample, he went straight for the scope. He said if I would have went any longer it would have been a lot worst. :blink: :huh: :unsure: :S

T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 2005

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12 years 4 months ago #40164 by pemquid
Replied by pemquid on topic Test for cancer cells in urine
I had urine cytology (looking for cancer cells in the urine) done when I first had bleeding, as part of the diagnostic workup looking for bladder cancer or other possible cause of the bleeding; they also checked then to see if there was a bladder infection. However, I was told even at that time that cytology rarely shows anything in the case of low grade tumors. Because my initial tumor, and later recurrence, were low grade non-invasive tumors, they've never done cytology again, as cystoscopic exam is the best way to keep on top of things.

There is another type of diagnostic test, which I know numbers of people here get, called FISH for short; I believe it checks for specific celluar DNA changes associated with bladder cancer. This is supposed to be more accurate than "conventional" cytology.

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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