Hi Rosie,
Not many people are aware of the controversies surrounding much of bladder cancer treatments, which are evolving all the time.
One thing for sure is bladder cancer has more than one form. Aside from the very obvious differences in a primary superificial tumor vs. a primary invasive tumor, the term "superificial bladder cancer" doesn't pin down the differences between a T1 tumor, CIS and a Ta, low grade tumor.
There are large differences in risk. There's risk of recurrence, which probably won't kill anyone with a Ta, low grade tumor, and there is risk of progression, something that could be fatal. As you know, Ta, low grade/Grade 1 tumors hardly ever progress.
Repeated TUR surgeries cause permanent damage; removal of low grade, non threatening tumors comes with a price. But not many people can live with the idea of having a tumor in there; doctors understand the anxiety that this brings and give people the treatment they want. Sometimes it's too much of a good thing.
Re-education is the key. There's much to know before being able to make a decision on this issue and be able to live with it, both literally and figuratively!
All the best to you Rosie.
Wendy