Bladder Cancer Group: Introduce yourself and connect with others

You’re fortunate…stick with Mayo…they are absolutely 1st!

Hi. 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.

Hematuria 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🙏

I 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!

Hi @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?

Hi @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?

Yes. I would very strongly recommend signatera, natera and imaging. The last thing you want to end up with is a full RC or worse once you are actually in surgery. Is your urologist a general urologist or oncologist urologist? My general urologist last year underestimated the urgency. So an oncology urologist is strongly recommended. Preferably at a NCI institute. Did he use blue light during his TURBT? CIS is notoriously difficult to detect and has a very high risk of recurrence elsewhere in the bladder, ureters and even upper tract.

@jaxfl
Thank you so much for that information ! I had my appointment this morning with the Urologist this morning. The recommendation was to remove the Diverticulum since all cancer activity was limited to that specific area. Having read what you wrote, i will be doing more research ! Again, thank you !