Husband newly diagnosed, I have questions

7 years 10 months ago #51141 by SueH756
Replied by SueH756 on topic Husband newly diagnosed, I have questions
Thanks again. We will check out Barnes. We were also considering Mayo Clinic. It's only about 8 hours away, and Barnes is 4 hours away. I appreciate your help.

Sue

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7 years 10 months ago #51140 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Husband newly diagnosed, I have questions
I would assume that they would do a CT-urogram or PET scan before surgery.

Dr. Wakefield's primary expertise does appear to be in other areas, although he does list bladder cancer. He seems to specialize in kidney issues.

Another good place for a consultation in Missouri would be Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

Sara Abbe

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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7 years 10 months ago #51139 by SueH756
Replied by SueH756 on topic Husband newly diagnosed, I have questions
Thank you, Sara Anne. We've been referred to Dr. Mark Wakefield, who is the chief of the division of urology at the University of Missouri (Columbia) Hospital. We will find out next week exactly how many of these he does. If we're not happy with the answer -- because his online resume seems to indicate he leans more toward prostate issues and renal transplant -- we will seek another opinion.

Another question we have is, do the doctors normally do some other tests before they remove the bladder to try to determine if the cancer has spread outside the bladder? It seems to me that if the cancer is already at a stage IV, there's no point in removing the bladder and going through all that. So would at pet scan or MRI or some other type of scan or test show that, before the radical surgery? Or maybe that's just something we have to wait and ask the doctor. This waiting is so hard, as I'm sure everyone knows. It's hard to keep our minds from going to the worst case scenario place over and over again.

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7 years 10 months ago #51138 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Husband newly diagnosed, I have questions
Sorry to hear about your husband. And yes, I would suspect that he is depressed. He, and you, are going to be facing some challenges and decisions and it can be quit daunting. I doubt that the TURB is responsible for the fatigue.

It is a good idea for him to be seeing a specialist. I assume that perhaps he is going to have a cystectomy? He wants to find someone who does MANY MANY of these and who can offer him the entire range of options available that are appropriate to his case.

There are many others here on this Forum who have been where your husband is and who are living very full and normal lives.

Best wishes for both of you

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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7 years 10 months ago #51137 by SueH756
My husband was diagnosed with "at least" T2 invasive cancer and is waiting to see a specialist next week. He had a TURBT a couple weeks ago and since then has been excessively tired. He is normally an exceptionally hard worker and always busy at something, and now he isn't doing much of anything, even napping in the afternoons. I'm concerned about depression, which would be understandable, but also concerned that something else might be going on. Is excess fatigue normal after a TURBT? Thanks.

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