96 yr old w/muscle invasive bladder cancer

3 years 2 weeks ago #60676 by readabook
Replied by readabook on topic 96 yr old w/muscle invasive bladder cancer
I was wondering what ended up being course of action with your 96 year father- in -law? My dad has had 4.5 weeks of radiation and so worn down and now edema in calves. He will continue with immunotherapy  but his bladder needs a break, He did have second turb with good kind doc, I think bleeding has stopped but radiation very uncomfortable. Fears he will have an accident

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3 years 2 months ago #60514 by readabook
Replied by readabook on topic 96 yr old w/muscle invasive bladder cancer
I kinda hopped on the earlier 96 year old dad, but yes mine is 93- and I guess starting some form of immunotherapy this week with oncologist after leaving not so great urologist  and prior to meeting new one (couldn't schedule for a bit) May be some part of tumor left... He has issues...I am shoved out of things till an emergency- so thanks for the pat on the back! Just trying  to help them!!
Best!

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3 years 2 months ago - 3 years 2 months ago #60512 by Alan
Sounds like your Dad is doing well for 96 and has good quality of life! Heck, he handled one TURB ok so maybe that will work if he needs another peek and the BCG.... you can always try and start and quit if it causes problems. Is there some tumor left? Pat yourself on the back as a good caregiver!

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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3 years 2 months ago #60510 by readabook
Replied by readabook on topic 96 yr old w/muscle invasive bladder cancer
Yes- well he can work out of a smaller hospital (where my dad had first resection) but not the bigger health care system he used to be a part of nearby!  Exactly my questions! 
The prob is the retention and blood loss- hence uro says cancer still an issue... And I do not have the report - this is the part of the hvign very sharp stubborn older parents- I am working on this!!

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3 years 2 months ago #60509 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic 96 yr old w/muscle invasive bladder cancer
I am a little confused by your narrative.  There is no evidence of cancer and yet the urologist wants to respect “more of the tumor?”  And then he would prescribe BCG.?    What did the pathology report say
after the first TURB?  Was the tumor low grade or high grade?

Because the current urologist does not have hospital privileges, it is difficult to see how he is going to do further resection.

if he is getting a second opinion, I would want to wait until after that before additional treatment.

Sara Anne 

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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3 years 2 months ago #60505 by readabook
Replied by readabook on topic 96 yr old w/muscle invasive bladder cancer
Follow-up: So my dad did have a PET scan ordered by a wonderful oncologist after tumor removal and it was perfect!  No cancer anywhere- even bladder--He continues to have urinary  issues thru holiday  (blood, retention) and finally went back to his urologist ( who we frankly feel is very outdated and is no longer part of the local medical systems or has local hospital privilege- but my almost 93 year old father has a bond with him.  He treated him for a UTI which made all kinds of sense as his manor was very off, and I don't think UTIS are recognized enough.. but he then said he should go back in and resect more of tumor he removed in fall and then see my dad in his office where he would insert medicine into his bladder once a week for six weeks.. I said "BCG?" and he was stunned I knew that.
Anyway. Dad has agreed to get a second opinion with a hospital based practice. I was surprised to learn that he he starting immunotherapy this week before he can get an appt with new urologist. Does he not need further surgery? But he has obviously spoken to oncologist who said he would share info with new doc... Fingers crossed all goes well. My 9o year old mother is accompanying so she can understand whats up.

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