4 cm tumor removed

8 years 6 months ago - 8 years 6 months ago #49289 by Hudsongrl
Replied by Hudsongrl on topic 4 cm tumor removed
I think in general, mitomycin can be systemically absorbed. But, i am not sure of the circumstances where this can occur. Maybe someone else here knows?

Did you get the path report back today?

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8 years 6 months ago #49280 by STRONG ENOUGH
Replied by STRONG ENOUGH on topic 4 cm tumor removed
Thank you for your knowledge and support. You are indeed correct! I think I was under the impression that the mitomycin and BCG were one in the same. Any thoughts on systemic absorbtion?

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8 years 6 months ago #49276 by Hudsongrl
Replied by Hudsongrl on topic 4 cm tumor removed
Agree with the other ladies. My hubby had a 3 cm. tumor removed in 2012.

Are you sure it wasn't mitomycin the doc was going to wash bladder with? I am wondering if he may still have been able to check kidney with dye while he was in there. I would bet path results will be in tomorrow and hopefully you will get to ask your questions then.

I have found it helpful to write them down because these specialists often are rushed and I tend to miss things I wanted to ask.

Best of luck to you and hubby. Ma y knowledgeable people here if you have more questions down the road.
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8 years 6 months ago #49273 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic 4 cm tumor removed
So sorry to hear about your husband's issues. And also sorry that the doctor didn't have the time to really go over this with you. Here is my guess.

As Cynthia said, they really do not know exactly what they are dealing with until the pathology report comes back. BE SURE TO ASK FOR A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS. Are you sure that the doctor said he was going to instill BCG right after the biopsy? BCG cannot be administered if there is an open sore or wound (from the biopsy) and is usually not given until the path report is in and indicates that the tumor might be susceptible to it....and the bladder has recovered completely ....usually about 4 to 6 weeks after the biopsy. Often mitomycin is given right after a biopsy.

Be sure to take your list of questions with you and politely insist that the doctor discuss them with you.

Wishing you the very best of luck

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
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8 years 6 months ago #49272 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic 4 cm tumor removed
Of course you are confused who wouldn't be? This is a lot to take in on top of the shock of being diagnosed. The truth of the matter is that until you see the pathology report it is hard to know what the questions even are. I am sure you know that treatment paths are different for invasive versus noninvasive.

Pet scans are not used as much in bladder cancer unless there is a special need. I would ask about the kidney being checked. As for why some people getting bladder cancer without having any of the obvious risk factors, many people never know the why. But I will tell you that with bladder cancer it can be something from childhood well water with a high concentration of arsenic for example.

Please let us know what you find out tomorrow we are here for you and you two are welcome as part of our community
.

Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society
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8 years 6 months ago #49269 by STRONG ENOUGH
4 cm tumor removed was created by STRONG ENOUGH
Hello everyone, so the love of my life just celebrated his 51st birthday on August 2nd and the next day had a CT (looking for what might be pinching a nerve) of his pelvis. Well, you guessed it the incidental finding was a 3 cm tumor in his bladder consistent with bladder carcinoma.

He had a cystoscopy done on the 28th and we were informed that the tumor was cancer (95%) and unfortunately there are concerns that the tumor is blocking the left ureter. My husband had been having unexplained back pain, dark urine, problems urinating, and sharp headaches for the last several months. He reported all of this to his doctor, however he is seen at the VA and has a multitude of other medical issues so we believe that this was simply chalked up to side effects of medications or the like.

He had his surgery on September 3rd and the tumor was to be removed, BCG to be injected, a stent and dye to go up and check his left ureter and kidney. What actually happened was once his urologist removed the head of the tumor it was no longer blocking the ureter and it was able to open. The doctor then continued to remove the remainder of the tumor buried in the bladder and it was deemed to be a total of
4 cm. Once my husband was in recovery the doctor spoke with me (with minimal bedside manner) explaining that he was unable to place the BCG as it was unsafe to do so as he had to go in too far cutting the entire tumor out(up and under) as it could cause systemic absorption

Every question I asked him that day was answered with we have to wait for the pathology report.

I was happy that the tumor was out, but confused about so much more.

My questions were:

How far into the bladder wall did you have to go?
Could it have reseeded due to the lack of BCG?
When will he get BCG or other chemotherapy?
Are you going to check his kidneys still?
What about a PET scan?
When will the pathology report be back?

So frustrating to say the least.
My husband's follow up is tomorrow afternoon and we are hoping that the pathology report will be back. It's confusing my husband doesn't smoke he chews tobacco, I guess he can get it that way I don't know. Anyone else have BC and chew tobacco?

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