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Bladder Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others
Welcome to the Bladder Cancer support group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people living with bladder cancer or caring for someone with bladder cancer. Let’s learn from each other and share stories about living well with cancer, coping with the challenges and offering tips.
Feel free to browse the topics, use the group search to find answers to your questions or start a new discussion.
Pull up a chair. Let’s start with introductions.
What type of bladder cancer were you diagnosed with? What treatments have you had? How are you doing?
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Welcome @annabel55 so sorry you're having to go through all of this and the surgeries.
I, too, was diagnosed with high grade NMI bladder cancer 4 years ago. Hopefully yours is not invading the muscle. Also, I didn't realize bladder cancer could be inherited. Besides the smoking for a year were you ever exposed to any chemicals of any sort? Just curious. I smoked for 33 years so there's no question as to where mine came from. By the Grace of God I managed to quit smoking 7.5 years ago. Three and 1/2 years into my quit was when I got my diagnosis, but I pushed through and never picked them back up again. Best of luck to you on everything.
Hi, I have been reading posts here (thanks to all that posted) and thought I would say hi.
15th October I was told I would have to have an operation. On the 20th I had an operation to remove what was aggressive high bladder cancer. I am female 55 years old, don’t smoke (about 13 years ago I smoked for a year, that’s it) and always been so healthy, my friends were shocked. I had inherited bladder cancer and something triggered it a year ago. It has all been a shock. I went back to work as a TA in a school last week which was nice to have some normality.
Today I had my second pre op and am waiting for my second operation to remove more so they can see if the tumour penetrated the bladder wall/ muscle or not. The challenges life throws at one!
I am hoping to get a cancellation and have my operation earlier than planned which is at the end of this month. 🤷♀️
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5 ReactionsYou’re fortunate…stick with Mayo…they are absolutely 1st!
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2 ReactionsHi. I’m a 53yo male and was diagnosed with T1 carcinoma in situ last month. I am being treated at Mayo in Rochester (about 6 hours from where I live) and so far have been very impressed with the care I’m receiving. It’s been worth every minute of the long drives.
I had a TURBT on Friday and will begin BCG in December. This is my first major health issue of any kind…I had never even spent a night in the hospital until last month.
Thank you to everyone for sharing their knowledge and experience in this group…it’s been helpful. I hope to do the same as I work through this.
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4 ReactionsHematuria led to dx of high-grade ca; have had 2 TURBTs. Interested in anyone near my age (76) going thru follow-up treatment... what did you have (BCG?) and what were side effects. I'm not interested in prolongation of life if the treatment prevents pleasant daily life🙏
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1 ReactionI would change to an oncology urologist ASAP. General urologists have good intentions but are usually not specialized in this subject matter obviously. Did you have a CT (urogram)?
If the blue light TURBT finds CIS elsewhere a partial RC is no longer an option.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/446101-overview
@jaxfl
Thanks for your reply. My next cystoscopy will be a blue light with TURBT if needed. I'm sure my Urologist is not a oncology urologist but very well trusted in his community.
In addition to all this, I have a 2nd opinion scheduled with Memorial Sloan Kettering on 11/13 to confirm the findings and possible treatment options. In my honest opinion, if I am assured that there is/are no cancer present I will move ahead with the Diverticulectomy. Depending on the 2nd opinion of course, Even though this is a second recurrence for me, it feels all very new to me.
@colleenyoung Thanks for posting those links, they are helpful and mostly it's good to know I'm not alone! I had by first session of gemcitabine and docetaxel last week, and it went so much easier than I expected. Still not fun, but I felt that I was in good hands. Was a little tired for a few days. My next treatment is tomorrow (Nov. 5) and I hope it goes as well, although from reading other people's stories I understand that the cumulative effects might be rough. But I'm positive and hopeful and grateful that I have a good doctor and great nurses!
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3 ReactionsHi @annie72, I add my welcome and, like @sepdvm, would like to hear what you learned about your appointment. Did you find out the type and stage of bladder cancer you have? What is next for you?
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1 ReactionHi @ksmcandle, you might be interested in these related discussions:
- Any other females here with bladder cancer in their 50s?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/54-yo-female-diagnosed-with-high-grade-bladder-cancer-1-5-years-ago/
- For Females with Bladder Cancer - Trouble with Administering BCG https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/for-females-with-bladder-cancer-trouble-with-administering-bcg/
- Anyone had gemcitabine and docetaxel for Bladder Cancer? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gencitabinedocetaxel-for-bladder-cancer/
How are you doing on gemcitabine and docetaxel?