In reply to my first post. I'm an over achiever. I started 2025 with a redo of a failed back fusion surgery of the L5-S1 at the end of January from my L2-L3 and L5-S1 fusion from last year. Went to the ER two weeks later for left leg swelling due to T2 diabetes. Doctors did tests and found a DVT blood clot in my right leg, most likely a result from the back surgery in January. Doctors also did an angiogram when I mentioned recent chest pains off and on from the past few months. I ended up with getting 2 stents in middle artery (widow maker) and left my right totally clogged artery to be done at a later date due to limitations of using dye during the procedure. Doctors started me on 2 blood thinners, one for my new stents and one to clear up the DVT in my right leg. Approx. 3 weeks later I'm back in the ER with gross hematuria (blood in my urine). CT scan showed a mass in my bladder and left pelvic. Doctors decided to stop the one blood thinner after tests confirmed the DVT in my right leg was no longer present. Cystoscopy confirmed the tumor. Had Cardio team and Urology team work together to determine ok to temporarily stop the blood thinner for my new stents long enough to complete the TURBT. Restarted the blood thinner for my new stents again. Ideally the blood thinner is planned for 6 mos. (3 mos. if needed to stop early) for new stents. Now waiting for Urology to let me know the official result of my TURBT and the next plan of action.

Hi,
On Dec. 27, 2023 I had my first TURBT done. My pathology report came back in my portal as: urothelial carcinoma high grade, muscle invasive bladder cancer. The next day I reached out to Mayo Clinic Rochester for a second opinion. Within a week I was at the Mayo clinic and the diagnosis was changed to "NON" muscle invasive bladder cancer.
First diagnosis meant removal of my bladder, second didn't. So 1.5 yrs later I am still sporting my bladder and it looks like I will keep it for a long time to come!
I've received immunotherapy & chemotherapy and my last scans showed NED. Yahoo!
I am so grateful for Dr. Shah and his team at the Mayo Clinic!

Wow, you have really been through the wringer with medical issues. To answer your question, we found that it was a good thing that we had a Mayo visit for an executive physical scheduled for my husband shortly after the local urologist said bladder was clear. He had looked at CT scan and done cystoscopy, had ignored a positive FISH test and the cytology of highly aggressive urothelial cell carcinoma. At Mayo they saw the bladder tumor on the CT scan read as negative by local radiologist and urologist. Mistakes do happen. Requesting a second opinion is always smart and can be done virtually nowadays.