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@sepdvm

Update 1 year after this neobladder surgery. In March 2022 at the 3 month checkup scan it was discovered that one ureter was partially blocked. Given the options of pursuing it then or waiting 3 months to see if the debris cleared, we chose to wait due to the surgeon's assessment. Unfortunately it was a stricture that closed the ureter completely and followup was needed to place a nephrostomy tube from the blocked kidney to an ostomy bag on his side. He has kidney damage from it being blocked now. Robotic surgery in October at Mayo enabled a reattachment of the ureter to the neobladder and removal of the nephrostomy tube after 4 months. The stent in the ureter was just removed in an easy procedure last week. Through all these invasive diagnostics it was also found that the urethra/neobladder junction was scarred down, so that has been dilated and now he self catheterizes 2-3 times a day to keep it open and remove any residual urine. His urine control is quite good, with only occasional leakage at night. He still has a very large incisional hernia due to the initial postop infection that will need to be repaired next. He wears a binder to support that until surgery can be scheduled. Through all of this, he is still glad that he chose the neobladder surgey over a urostomy. As the caregiver, I am concerned over the loss of kidney function which may become an issue with age. After this experience, if I were faced with the same decision, I would choose a urostomy. Again, the incredible surgical skills of the Mayo specialists made this all possible and we are forever grateful for each day of being cancer-free.

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Replies to "Update 1 year after this neobladder surgery. In March 2022 at the 3 month checkup scan..."

i appreciate this update, Sue. I'm especially intrigued that if given the choice again with the information that you have now, you and your husband would not make the same choice. You, as the caregiver, would choose urostomy given concerns of declining kidny function, and your husband sticks by the neobladder despite some of the complications. Thank goodness there are options and we have choices, right?