Alice,
Hi. I don't know about you, but I am so glad that Zach is here. He has said it all, but, I would like to add my two cents on the matter, as I am one who has a high intermediate grade and stage with no recurrance and bladder intact.
It seems to me that Bladder Cancer is a hide- and- seek, catch- me- if -you -can type of disease. I know a person who has been tumor free 10+ years and told me that BC is not such a bad disease as everyone likes to say about it. I know another lady who was tumor free for 10+ years and went for a cystoscopy one day and the cancer was back with a vengeance. Her bladder came out quick. Non-optional.
Of all the people here, you might want to take a look at the posts by Tim B. Tim lives in the UK and he went through treatment and recurrance until he was tired of it, and then one day, he decided that life was bladder optional. He made his own decision based on the best information that he had and his own tolerance for recurrance. In other words, he made his own decision about living without his bladder.
I'm glad you are here. Take a look at some of the stories and if you want to talk things through, just jump in and start talking. There are lots of folks here who care.
BTW, stage and grade would be a very important factor in making a case for bladder optional living.
(Tim B., I hope I got all that right.)
Your BC friend,
Rosemary