Are there any alternatives to surgery for bladder cancer?

Hi @mac2,
I've added your question to the cancer group as well as the kidney group. I can imagine that your care team is considering your wife's overall health status when choosing what test and treatments to offer. Going through surgery, even a biopsy, may be traumatic and the risks outweigh the benefits in your wife's case. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments can be used to treat bladder cancer in some cases. Although sitting still for daily radiation treatments and the noise of the machinery might be a challenge as could dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy.

Has your wife's care team talked to you about radiation or chemo? Is the tumor causing your wife any pain? Is she alarmed by the blood in her urine?

Hello Colleen,
Thank you for your consideration and response. My wife was sent yesterday to a Hospice House. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2012. Wife is unaware of blood in urine. I am sitting with her now. I apologize for being unclear and incomplete with my question. My daughter is a nurse practitioner in oncology. We have dismissed biopsy, radiation, and chemotherapy. Looking for any possible (non-traditional, (non-invasive) alternative to slowing down or stopping bleed. They are giving morphine and flushing her bladder. We are employing lots of prayer.

Thank you

That makes total sense that you would dismiss agressive treatments at this point, Mac. I searched one of my favorite sites Virtual Hospice to see if they had any articles about non-invasive approaches to slow or stop the bleeding, but didn't find anything. However, you might other questions that you may have answered on their website. It's a great resource, especially when the end is near.
- Virtual Hospice https://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Topics/Topics.aspx

I'm relieved to hear that she is in hospice care. As you know, comfort care will be the top priority for her there. I truly hope that hospice is providing you and your family with a sense of comfort too. How are you doing?

Thank you for your responses and concern. I am hanging in. My wife and I met a few months before I went to Viet Nam. She was always there for me. She preserved my sanity. God has blessed us. I believe he will continue with his blessings. I will look into Virtual hospice.