Bladder cancer & kidney transplant

Hello @tucsonguy

I am sorry to hear about your bladder cancer being diagnosed so soon after your kidney transplant. We have had a number of discussions on bladder cancer. In order to direct you to the group best able to relate to your cancer, would you mind sharing the type of bladder cancer you have?

I would also like to invite @rosemarya to this discussion. You may have met her already as she is the mentor of the Transplant group. Perhaps she can offer some guidance as well.

The bad kind. Just kidding. It is a high grade, stage 2 with the cancer having spread into the bladder walls. Can’t do radiation because of the transplant which would be damaged by the radiation. I hope this answers your question.

Hi @tucsonguy

I was thinking that you might provide the name of the bladder cancer but I appreciate your comment nonetheless. "The bad kind" is probably good enough. Here are some bladder cancer discussions. Some are discussed by the type of chemo they are using, so perhaps that might be helpful to you. If you look at the biopsy report you might find the name of the cancer. Here are the links to other bladder cancer discussions.

https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stage-1-bladder-cancergemcitabine/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-dealing-with-ckd-and-bladder-cancer/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bcg-for-bladder-cancer/

I would like to hear from you again. Will you post again after your chemo treatment?

I'd like to bring other members who have experience with bladder cancer and bladder removal (cystectomy) into this discussion like @sue225 @jimmy2248 @texascitylady @jackc @parus @quark @judith4.

@tucsonguy, are you getting intravesical therapy like Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or a different kind of chemotherapy? Do you have any questions about the bladder removal that you'd like to be prepared for?

I had 3 months of chemo back in 2013. Then in feb 2014 , had my cystectomy at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, and IC conduit. Have not had any real problems other than kidney stones which really threw me for a loop, but luckily, so far no cancer.

I finally got the name of my cancer. It is high-grade muscular involvement your refill cancer. Now that’s a 50 Cent disease. I will definitely check out the bladder cancer website you referred me to. Thank you. Tomorrow I just get a shot and I did not get the name of the shot. Then I am off the rest of the week and all of next week. On the following Monday I start with my second session of chemo routine which will be just like the one I had this week.I may need a third round but that will depend on my labs. Then my surgery will be Scheduled. I had my first treatment yesterday and today. Today was 2 1/2 hours this afternoon they told me what to do if I feel nauseous but so far so good but it’s still early. Actually the treatment went just fine, no problems. I’ll have to talk to some of the people up and Mayo who had the surgery to find out a little bit more about what to expect. I have to admit I am not looking forward to having a bag hanging from my side.
Hope this gives you all the info you wanted. Do keep in touch.

Sent from my iPhone

🇺🇸😁

I can not
Do BCG because of my transplant.

@tucsonguy Hi Bob,

I am glad to hear that you are handling the chemo treatments without side effects. I hope that you are able to connect with some of the members that Colleen, @colleenyoung, mentioned in her post to you.

Keep asking questions here on Connect and get as many answers as you can. Connect is here to offer you support, education and encouragement.

It is my husband who has bladder cancer. Difficult case. 17 years (and 10 surgeries TURB) of dealing with it. Now unable to tolerate either bcg or gemcitabine (high grade, so far non-muscle wall invasive). Bladder lining paper thin. Maybe due to radiation for prostate cancer many years ago. Now facing prospect of bladder removal. Interested to hear from anyone in a similar situation. Anyone dealing with cancer specialist who has experimental study underway? We will be getting 2nd opinion shortly.