6 yrs fighting recurrent bladder cancer

8 years 1 month ago #50731 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic 6 yrs fighting recurrent bladder cancer
I am so sorry to hear about your mother. She (and you) have been through a lot already. At this point, it would seem that cystectomy is the only option. If
the cancer has not spread outside the bladder BEFORE cystectomy, this is curative. If, however, it has already spread....and this is not always easy to determine, it can reappear elsewhere.

There is no medical evidence that alternative medicine can help bladder cancer in any way except as a placebo, and it can interfere with treatment. I would hesitate to use anything without consulting with her doctor,

Wishing you both the very best.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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8 years 1 month ago #50722 by Franky
Hi everyone. My mom, who is 75 yrs old, has been battling non-invasive bladder cancer for the last 6 yrs. Following the initial diagnosis she had turbt with bcg treatments. After completing the recommended bcg protocol, she remained cancer free for 3 1/2 yrs. We actually thought she may have licked it. During this period of time, we accidentally discovered that she had a brain aneurysm, which required surgery. During the surgery, she suffered a stroke. She has spent the last couple of yrs regaining much of what she lost. She still has some deficits, but has made unbelievable progress over the last few yrs. Now the cancer is back again and the intervals with which it is reoccurring are getting closer and closer together. We are currently still using bcg maintenance, but I believe her urologist will be telling us soon that a cystectomy is unavoidable. He has been mentioning the cystectomy all along but knows that it has been a last option for us because of everything she all already been through. We have looked into all kinds of alternative treatments. She is on a cancer diet and also uses frankincense oil. We are also currently looking into cannabis oil. Has anyone ever had any luck with alternative treatments? Also, does anyone know the statistics of the bladder cancer showing up somewhere else after a cystectomy? It is such a big surgery to put her through after everything else she has had to deal with. Also, my mom's cancer is a high grade and the last treatment of bcg she had only kept the cancer away for 2 months and 1 week. Can anyone give me any advice?
Thanks,
Kathleen

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