Laura,
I am not sure if you were able to keep your bladder. I was fortunate and was. It has actually been going very well for me. I have had 2 rounds of chemo and have 2 to go. The DR's are still fighting over whether I must have radiation also. Urologist says, no. Oncologists and radiation oncologist say, yes. I am having another biopsy done this week to determine if there is still cancer in my bladder. When the dr originally removed the tumor (size of his fist) from the bladder diverticulum he thought he added enough of a margin around it to be safe. The pathology came back that tumor cells were present in the margins. So the debate started. Even after a Tumor Board, they were still debating. Take the bladder, leave the bladder and do radiation, build a new bladder from intestines, bag him for the rest of his life. All not viable options when I could very well no longer have cancer present. For now I live my life through dr appointments and tests. I know the odds are against me for cancer to rear its ugly head again but I can't sit back and let it consume me or my quality of life. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.
I'm convinced some dr somewhere is writing a paper about me but has to wait for the last chapter to be written.