Newly Diagnosed, just after prostate cancer

Thanks Sara Anne.

I know the BCG treatments are life- saving, and I realize it's not extremely toxic, I will get used to the idea (I've had one treatment so far). It's just the first time coming home and using the bleach and other precautions made me feel a bit worried especially because I am incontinent and have to be careful not to leak outside of the toilet

Purrkat, yes my doctor is a urologist who specializes is urologic cancer. He belongs to a urologic group and did the robotic prostatectomy.

Hi George,

Nice to meet you, sorry for the circumstances!

First off, I should clarify that I myself do not have bladder cancer, but I am a "bladder patient" (I've got an inflammatory condition and recently had a benign tumor removed via TURBT). I'm sure more seasoned experts will chime in, but I have some opinions/questions:

1. Did you have a TURBT to remove the CIS prior to starting th BCG treatments?

2. I absolutely believe you should seek a second opinion from a major teaching hospital. I think this for a couple of reasons: 1). This is YOUR life, and you only get one chance to get it right. Having had 2 different cancers in such a short period of time, as you said, I think warrants further investigation by a team, which is generally how they do it in teaching hospitals. It may just confirm that the treatment you are getting and have gotten to date is completely appropriate, but if I were in your position, I'd want that confirmation. And 2). The incontinence. This is a serious quality-of-life issue and if I were you I would want to make sure there wasn't more that could be done about that.

All this being said, it's great that you have a doctor (I assume it's a urologist?) who you like. There is no reason why you can't stick with this doctor and still seek a second opinion.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Hello everyone,

I have been reading the posts here, and I wanted to join. I guess my case would be somewhat unusual; last June (2015) I had a prostatectomy after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. I never regained continence, so in June of this year (2016), my doctor did a urodynamics test and a cystoscopy. Well, he found bladder cancer (CIS). I am having BCG therapy but it's tricky because I am still completely incontinent, but my doctor has me stay at his office with a cunningham clamp on and it seems to work (I've had one treatment so far). The BCG treatments scare me, as my wife and I are mildly germaphobic But, we're managing.

I never got a second opinion (I like my doctor), except for the fact that my doctor sends the pathology reports to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion of those.

My wife and I are a little scared and freaked out at me getting two cancers within a year. Should I be seeking care or an opinion at Sloan Kettering or a cancer center?

(I live in NJ, and as I said I like my doctor, and I trust him).

GeorgeWG

68 years old.
Non-smoker
other than CSI bladder and having had a radical prostatecomy, in good health (haha).