FISH Test on urine specimen?

Hey David,
Why be forced to get a second opinion? Why not plan on it right now. That way whatever decision you make you can be comfortable and know you've explored your options.

Nancy, Ross, Julie, Susan and everyone:

I appreciate your responses and good thoughts. What I am mainly concerned with at this point is my doctor's apparent intent to recommend a cystectomy based on repeated recurrences of papillary and CIS -- even though all have been non-invasive thus far. He stated that the chances of progression or upstaging are too great to risk waiting, but that does not correspond with the information I have been reading on this forum over the past year. I was under the impression that superficial, non-invasive bladder cancer only progresses to invasive in five percent or fewer instances. If the biopsy shows recurrence of ANY type of blc, I think he's going to recommend cystectomy and I will be forced to seek a second opinion and perhaps other options.
I would certainly welcome any and all input on this matter. Thanks again.

David

David,

Sorry to hear about your results and scheduled TURBT. I hope the results of the TURBT and any subsequent biopsies come back in your favor.

Ross

David
We have both had very up and down highways to travel. At least you are staying on top of everything and I know you will decide on what is best for you. Second opinions are great as long as they are done in a timely manner, but I know you already know that. I did have slides sent to John Hopkins and they were very quick. Always an option.
Try to think positive thoughts,
Nancy S

Nancy,

So nice of you to think of me. I just this minute got home from having the cysto. My doc starting in talking about how upsetting it was to him that the FISH test was positive. I queried him about false positives from FISH but he obviously did not agree that that was likely.

He did the cysto and at first said he saw some papillary tumors and maybe some CIS. Then he took a second look and wasn't so sure, but said he wanted to do another biopsy so I had to schedule a TURB for 3/28. Not exactly what I wanted but then again no big surprise. This will be my 4th TURB since 4/13/07. Good news was that the inflammation from the last TURBT on 11/30 was about gone.

He also wants to do a biopsy on the prostate area where he resected some tissue back on 11/30. Not looking forward to that.

What bothered me most was he is again talking about the possibility of a cystectomy. His words were, "If we find more CIS or even papillary, you and I are going to have a heart to heart talk about bladder removal." I argued that up till now everything has been non-invasive but he responded that with my blc and CIS recurring so frequently that our window of opportunity could be small. Not all all what I wanted to hear. If that happens I will definitely seek a second opinion.

In closing I hope your cysto goes much better and that they find nothing at all. Please don't let my comments worry you --- each case is totally unique. I'll be thinking of you on Monday -- please let us know your results asap.

David

David,
How did your Cysto go? I am thinking of you. I have one next Mon. I get knots in my stomach thinking of the outcome.

Nany S