Any other females here with bladder cancer in their 50s?

Posted by talltxlady @talltxlady, Apr 25, 2023

Saying hello as a new member. Sometimes it's difficult to find info for females with bladder cancer, and sometimes it would be nice to have others to connect with.
Start BCG again in May. Have been off of it since December. It has been so nice not to have to think about any of that for a while. Starting to get nervous though, with bcg beginning again very soon. Praying the cancer stays away.
I think I'm the youngest one where I'm being treated. Any other females here with bladder cancer in their 50's?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.

tanya | @hmmm | 3 days ago

In reply to @deb2024 "I have high grade non muscle invasive bladder cancer and have never smoked." + (show)

I also had high-grade aggressive bladder cancer with 1 of the 4 tumors being muscle invasive and I also have never smoked, so that was definitely not expected. 🫂 Hope everything is going okay

tanya | @hmmm | 3 days ago

Things are going good. I did see a physiotherapist specializing in the pelvic floor just yesterday and she was able to tell me that I am tightening the correct muscles, so that was good to hear. She also mentioned that I also need to relax the muscles because always tightening them can work against helping with incontinence, which was really good information because I was thinking to stop flow you always want to tighten up which is apparently not always correct. The relaxing also helped with emptying more, so that was nice, and that was just on the 1st day with new knowledge 🙂. Patience and time ❤️

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 3 days ago

In reply to @hmmm "So I also ended up getting a neobladder as the surgeon said I was a good..." + (show)

@hmmm, Hi Tanya, are things improving? Did you get pelvic exercises to do as @jowilliams1 suggested?

deb2024 | @deb2024 | Mar 22 11:59am

In reply to @codyboo "Hi @talltxlady yes, I smoked for a very long time too and quit 14 years ago..." + (show)

I have high grade non muscle invasive bladder cancer and have never smoked.

tanya | @hmmm | Mar 21 8:39pm

In reply to @jowilliams1 "Oh yes. I'm surprised your surgeon didn't discuss that it does take a while for those..." + (show)

Thank you.

jowilliams1 | @jowilliams1 | Mar 21 7:49pm

In reply to @hmmm "So I also ended up getting a neobladder as the surgeon said I was a good..." + (show)

Oh yes. I'm surprised your surgeon didn't discuss that it does take a while for those muscles to build back up again. My surgeon told me it could take 6-12 months but thankfully it hasn't taken that long. Just be patient and do your pelvic exercises. Your body has been through a lot. I'm glad to hear it was successful.

tanya | @hmmm | Mar 21 6:55pm

In reply to @jowilliams1 "Stay strong. I was 54 yo in June when I found out I had muscle invasive..." + (show)

So I also ended up getting a neobladder as the surgeon said I was a good candidate. I just had the catheder removed yesterday and sadly am not able to stop urine from flowing on its own. I am trying pelvic exercises but it has only been 2 full days. Did you have any problems afterwards?

codyboo | @codyboo | Mar 14 8:03am

In reply to @talltxlady "Thank you for your service @codyboo May God bless and watch over you 🙏" + (show)

Thank you 🙂
I just found out yesterday that I was treated with gemcitibine during my TURBT instead of mitomicin. And they may not do any chemo during my next cysto since I'm Low grade Ta. Thanking my lucky stars for that!

talltxlady | @talltxlady | Mar 13 3:49pm

In reply to @codyboo "Hi @talltxlady yes, I smoked for a very long time too and quit 14 years ago..." + (show)

Thank you for your service @codyboo May God bless and watch over you 🙏

codyboo | @codyboo | Mar 13 9:19am

In reply to @talltxlady "Hi @codyboo I was diagnosed 11/2021 with high grade bladder cancer, and did my 3 years..." + (show)

Hi @talltxlady yes, I smoked for a very long time too and quit 14 years ago but then started e-cigs. I was also in the military and exposed to a lot of stuff. First had renal cell carcinoma in 2005 found by accident in a CT scan. Tumor on top of left kidney which Shands removed. At that time they were stumped why I got it with no family history of any kidney issues. Now they all say it's all from smoking and my kidney cancer isn't related to my bladder cancer which I find very odd. Congrats on your 7 years nicotine free!!