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Bladder Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Bladder Cancer | Last Active: Sep 16 11:03am | Replies (357)Comment receiving replies
Hello and thanks for allowing me to join....here's my situation. A 78 year old male. Around 2 months ago, I noticed strings of blood in my urine. At first, the Urologist thought it was a UTI but after multiple antibiotics, a probe was done.
Bladder Cancer was detected in multiple locations...one relatively easy to get at (TURP was performed) and a much larger mass on the 'dome of the bladder'. Cleveland Clinic confirmed this and I will be meeting with the local urologist on Tuesday to discuss treatment options. I am at a loss as to what these might be and what questions to ask. Additionally, I will be getting a second option from the Levine Cancer Center in Charlotte.
From here on, should I be dealing with a oncologist specializing in urology? Or?
As a side story, I am not fond of the local urologist. He may be a great surgeon but his post operative care and follow-up was non existent. I never received a courtesy 'how are you doing. Anything you need'? call. I was literally left high and dry with pain meds....
At this juncture, I am at a loss and feel totally alone....any guidance?
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Hello l0ud1etr1ch. I would recommend looking into your referral as soon as possible. Also researching online for treatment regimens on websites like Mayo Clinic, Harvard Health, Johns Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering. It is hard to find a urological oncologist but that is the better way to go. In my husband's experience, a discussion with a Mayo oncologist was basically just a referral back to the urologist, as they had no urological oncologists a that time. But there are studies demonstrating better outcomes with a chemo therapy for bladder cancer prior to surgery. There are new combinations of Immunotherapy drugs being used for bladder cancer. And you should know from your first procedure how aggressive and if your tumor was muscle invasive or not because that will affect the treatment plan. It looks like you must have seen your local urologist yesterday. Did he give you any more information about your tumor and treatment plan? Always ask about potential complications and their frequency. With multiple tumors in your bladder, you should be looking for a large cancer center referral for your best treatment options. My husband has had all of his surgeries at Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, which is a 10 hour drive for us. But I feel like we got the best options offered for his care. He has had a radical cystectomy with neobladder and has been clear of cancer for a few years now.