Connect
← Return to My Bladder Cancer Story
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
I was first diagnosed with low grade non invasive bladder cancer in April 2011. After BCG and repeated cystoscopes I was clear for 5 years. Then in April of 2023 it came back with a vengeance. That’s when the urologist referred me to an oncologist. It was both aggressive and invasive. It had invaded the muscle. After several treatments of Gemzar and Cisplatin, I had a radical cystectomy 3 weeks ago. They removed my bladder, uterus, ovaries, pelvic lymph nodes, and the lining to the vagina. Not fun. Pathology showed no residual cancer cells and I am now 100% cancer free!!
Replies to "I was first diagnosed with low grade non invasive bladder cancer in April 2011. After BCG..."
Hi, I am having the same operation as yourself. I feel so afraid and scared just don't know what to expect and how long will it be before I'm out of pain?
Thank you for any information
Connect
Finally another woman who has gone through what I have….
I had symptoms similar to a bladder infection-UTI-three years ago. Went through the testing, but nothing was found.
Last year I had the same symptoms-burning. frequency, blood in my urine; this time I was diagnosed with high grade invasive (through the muscle wall) bladder cancer.
I was seeing a local urologist, but couldn’t get in to one who could do the procedure I needed done which was similar to yours. So a year ago September, I went to the Mayo clinic.
I had my ovaries, tubes, all pelvic nodes and bladder removed. They also took 18 inches of ileum to fashion a new bladder, a neo bladder.
I had just about every complication:
Massive infection,
Intestinal blockage,
Blockage from the kidney through the ureter, and now
Lymphedema in one leg.
The new bladder functions more like a funnel than a Reservoir. And I live with terrible incontinence. -12 pads a day.
I go back every three months for a check up.
No return of the cancer has been found so far.
But I was wondering if any other woman has the same issues as I. Someone who can share how they get through the days…