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Post-nephroureterectomy for UTUC - now abnormal bladder cells
I was diagnosed with high grade, muscle invasive Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma a year ago. After 12 cycles of Gemcitabin/Cisplatin, the right kidney, urether, bladder cuff, adrenal gland and lots of plevic and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were removed in August. Pathology was a T4 tumour that ate up entire kidney in 7 months. No lymph node cancer detected. Currently in 6th cycle of immunotherapy (Nivolumab) - every 4 weeks.
Follow up March cystoscopy has "multiple red areas, and polyploid lessions"; cytology result was "abnormal cells in a background of RBC". I am undergoing a TUR Bladder in two weeks.
The urologist disccussion stressed abnormal cells not cancer cells. Since the original urothelial cancer was high grade and invasive, do I hope that this time the cancer will be contained if cells removed? Two weeks to TURB, another 10 days for biopsy results - will the abnormal cells develop into cancer before the TURB is done? I don't want to go through another major abdominal surgery in less than a year...
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@jsa236, welcome. I'm tagging @sil839 @sil839 @lrwants2know @amyb5 to connect with other members who have experience with urothelial cancer or transitional cell carcinoma.
Have you had a radical nephroureterectomy?
My husband has had that cancer going on two years. First it was a research study in Dallas, 500 miles away, that removed the tumors at first, then they returned. Next was the insertion on a tube in his back to administer Jelmyto... 1x weekly for 6 wks. That didn't work. Now he'll have that offending kidney removed this coming Sunday. That was the original suggestion but we got caught up in all the research. He's 75, doing well and will be better once it's outta there! Once he has his follow up, we will seek a urologist closer to home. Should have done this in February 2023! It's been two months since we knew the Jelmyto did not work. Let's not get right on it! Am I frustrated? You bet. Just praying it's not any worse and no chemo or radiation afterwards. We are thankful it is slow growing and non invasive, but ready to get on with life.
@colleenyoung hello, thank you. Yes, I had this done early November. I received my final pathology which shows pt3n0, invasive high grade urothelial cancer in my renal pelvis. No lymphnode involvement and margins are clear. I have my consult with the oncologist this week. Im really nervous as what I read is not really great. I am 45yo.
@vickipm that is great news. Good luck. My nephroureterectomy went well, still in a lot of pain 5 weeks later, however I had issues with incisions and infection which was not helpful.
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@jsa236, how is recovery going? @vickipm was asking what kind of infection you had.