Warren,
Lots of things go into those statistics and lots of things are left out. Let me know what you like to prove and I can prove it with statistics.
I'm 3+ years after my cancer came back as T2G3. It was two years for it to come back after being CIS T0. I'm still here and my doc just told me after 3 years it is pretty rare to come back after the RC.
Don't forget, the statistics so far on guys named Warren look WAY better. Also, break that down by guys named Warren that are the same age as you. What about guys named Warren who are treated at the top bladder cancer hospital?
One good thing about the stats is they scare enough to take this seriously. You'd be surprised how many people delay and delay and say they aren't going to let the doctor's take their bladder, etc. Those are the ones (more often than not) that are dead and we're not. It's not something to take lightly and aggressive treatment gives the best chances.
Many studies are trying to prove some point or another and you'd likely be surprised if you did the math and got under the covers on some of the surveys.
The question becomes "How do I maximize my chance for survival long term?"
1. Get to the best dang doctor at the best dang hospital you can as fast as you can.
2. Treat the cancer aggressively (it's going to be aggressive with you so it's certainly fair to be aggressive with it and kick it's butt to the curb).
3. Rinse and Repeat.
Before mine was diagnosed as T2, I had already decided that ANY recurrence of high grade was my trigger for removing the bladder. Aggressive!
T1 is a more challenging diagnosis if you ask me. T2 is pretty clear what to do. T1? If it were me, I'd have gone for the RC anyway. Since I was T2 I didn't have to argue with doctors or insurance companies to take the aggressive route.
Good luck on the follow up. We understand looking at the stats. Most of us did the same thing. Many of us also decided "Well that's nice. I'm going to be in the percentage that's still alive in 5, 10, 15, 20 years". I encourage you to take the same approach.
Mike