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@hlr

Hello. We found my 81 year old mother has bladder cancer this week.
It is:
Papillary
Noninvasive
Low grade
Stage 1
Uninvolved
The tumors were 1 superficial & 1 deep but did not enter the muscle.
They think they got all of it but since it was over 3mm they are going to use immunotherapy with BCG.
Mom is having some physical discomfort in her abdomen but the bigger issue is that she is so freaked out she is disassociating which makes it difficult for her to retain information about her condition & what she should be doing. I’ve been trying to help her learn to calm down with breathing - working towards meditation etc. but I don’t live close.
questions:
Has there been anything that you/yours have found to be helpful to decrease side effects or increase comfort throughout this process?
Have you found a guide for eating to:
Know which foods are best to consume/avoid for people dealing with bladder cancer? To boost health & decrease possible recurrence?
Thank you for your time & I’m sorry for whatever scenario landed you in this spot.

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Replies to "Hello. We found my 81 year old mother has bladder cancer this week. It is: Papillary..."

So sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis and anxiety. I began BCG treatments last Monday. Insertion and removal of the catheter were briefly uncomfortable, but insertion of the small amount of BCG involved no discomfort. I'm incontinent, so needed to remain in the treatment room for an hour. A pillow, warm blanket and a tv remote made the hour speed by. After treatment, I had a slight burning sensation during urination for two days, a tiny amount of blood in my urine, but none of the potential side effects noted in the literature. Prior to treatment, I had anxiety; after all it's unfamiliar territory. But there's no need for exceptional anxiety. I do have a supportive wife, family and friends, many of whom prayed for me. If you understand that professionals implementing your care are highly trained, capable, kind and experienced, it helps moderate anxiety. But there's no substitute for prayer because you need God's help for healing. I'm 84 years old with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. With BCG treatments planned for the next five weeks, I've been wondering if I'd be able to play golf now that the weather is moderating here in Minnesota. Well, my first BCG is behind me with no side effects. So I'm planning to make a tee time next week. For that I'm grateful to Mayo Clinic for professional help. I'm certain God will eliminate the cancer if that's what He has in mind for me. But I know God will walk with me either way. My bottom line recommendation: Pray for your mom, but also seek help from family or friends who may be able to provide on-site support to help her through this unfamiliar valley and ease her anxiety. I'm not a physician, but my doctor tells me he is confident my aggressive bladder cancer can be controlled with non-surgical measures. BCG may be all that's needed. From your description of your mother's diagnosis, I suspect my doctor would pass along to her the same prediction.