Bladder cancer recurrance: What are the treatment options?

Posted by bruceb @bruceb, Mar 18, 2023

After a year clear, bladder cancer cells detected again for this 76 year old

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

bruceb | @bruceb | Apr 3, 2023

In reply to @colleenyoung "@bruceb, any update from the biopsy? How are you doing?" + (show)

Surgery”blue light” biopsy on April 24. Good news: I get a two-fer. They will do some TURP work which is needed (again!) as well as cancer cell hunting. Best case: the dye lights up cells in situ, we do some more chemo. Worst case: they find nothing, yet bad cells still show up in urine and they determine I am a Martian.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 3, 2023

In reply to @bruceb "Immune therapy did not work at all, been thru two years chemo, and that left me..." + (show)

@bruceb, any update from the biopsy? How are you doing?

Kathryn M. Carroll | @kathrynmc | Mar 22, 2023

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @cairo20, I'm tagging @kathrynmc @sandielegal @pameladstone, who are women with experience with bladder cancer. I'm..." + (show)

I did not have bladder cancer personally, my sister did.

bruceb | @bruceb | Mar 21, 2023

Lest I sound to negative, I have few symptoms, otherwise good health, met a lot of terrific people in the cancer fight, and have not been unable to do things. I am not running the high hurdles, but then I never did😮

bruceb | @bruceb | Mar 21, 2023

In reply to @cairo20 "Yes Started them immediately after catheter was removed. Seeing a 2nd Physical Therapist who specializes in..." + (show)

Cancer is a journey; mine is in the 7th year.

bruceb | @bruceb | Mar 21, 2023

6 years ago, blood in urine led to my discovery

bruceb | @bruceb | Mar 21, 2023

Immune therapy did not work at all, been thru two years chemo, and that left me clear for only a year. Dye biopsy surgery will reveal if it’s still in situ, as it has always been thus far.

cairo20 | @cairo20 | Mar 21, 2023

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @cairo20, I'm tagging @kathrynmc @sandielegal @pameladstone, who are women with experience with bladder cancer. I'm..." + (show)

Yes
Started them immediately after catheter was removed. Seeing a 2nd Physical Therapist who specializes in Pelvic Floor exercises.
I’m still hopeful but it’s been 6 months and it doesn’t seem to make any difference 😞

donsunlover | @donsunlover | Mar 21, 2023

How were the cancer cells detected?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 21, 2023

In reply to @bruceb "Conference with doctors upcoming. Interested in treatment options for this situation, especially if cancer is no..." + (show)

@bruceb, as you alluded to, your treatment options will depend on several factor like if it is in situ or not, treatments you've already had, the grade of the cancer, when it comes back, your preferences, etc.

The good news is that there are a number of options available from surgery to immunotherapy and more. You may find this article helpful to prepare for your upcoming conference with your cancer team:
- Treatments for recurrent bladder cancer https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/bladder/treatment/recurrent

What diagnostic tests have you had or will be having?