Bladder Cancer return after 16 years

The diagnosis is Stage IV Transitional Cell Carcinoma. The plan would be for chemo only. The Doctor in Chicago suggested Gemzar and Carboplatan with Dexamethazone and Ondansetron. Gemzar day 1, Gemzar and Carboplatan day 8...and repeat the cycle at day 21. Insert the other 2 to help control the side effects of the first two.

Unfortunately my Dad decided that he wanted Chemo closer to his home instead of in the Chicago area. So, we are talking with an oncologist in Peoria, IL on Tuesday.

Does anyone have any experience with Neupogen (increases white cells) when in the nadir period?

Have you heard of "Magic Swizzle" to help with oral hygene? (equal parts Mylanta, viscous lidocaine and Benadryl elixir), pharmacy can make it.

Sorry to hear about your Dad, especially when he continued to get checked over the past 16 years. Did they also do cytology test each time he had his cystoscopes? The reason I ask is the cystoscope is negative for bladder tumors, the cytology will come back positive for cance cells. It alerts the doctor to do other tests. May I ask what your father's stage and grade was?

As many before me has stated bladder cancer is very sneaky and even being diligent like your dad was with his follow ups it can come back.

Good luck wishing you the best.

Anne

My Dad was treated for bladder cancer at Loyola in 1999 with BCG. He was checked aggressively immediately after and then annually after that to make sure the cancer had not come back. "Checked" entailed cystoscopies by a Urologist every year for the past 16 years. He is now 84.

Earlier this year, Dad complained of some pain in his left femur. The hip Dr said it was not the hip, the knee Dr said it was not the knee. They sent us to a neurologist because they thought it was referred pain from a pinched nerve in his back. I never thought about the possibility of cancer.

Finally, we found someone to Xray his thigh and they found evidence of cancer in the femur. A bone scan confirmed the cancer. A CT scan found a 1 inch tumor in his left ureter. My Dad has transitional cell carcinoma metastatic to the bone.

I hope that the standard protocol in use today for bladder cancer includes involvement of an oncologist. I don't think it did in 1999. I think an oncologist would have been more aggressive about the Xray.

Dad had a rod inserted in the diseased femur and he is no longer in any pain. He's 100% asymptomatic, right now. We meet with an oncologist with the Kellogg Cancer Center, next week to discuss next steps. I'm not sure what the treatment options are, but would welcome advice on facilities, doctors, chemotherapy drugs, etc.

Thank you!