Mom has stage 2 bladder cancer getting radical cystectomy

Your Mom is having her surgery at one of the top places for blc in the country. As for the showering they will tell you when she can start showering again as well as restrictions if any. I’m a bath girl but had to shower until they gave me the go ahead. Walking is the best thing in the world of you after this surgery so encourage her to walk as much as she can and to go a little further every day. They will let you know when they want her to start walking I got back from recovery and was up and took a few steps at 3am because the mattress was trying to murder my back. By the way that mattress was a big part of my recovery as I would do anything to get out of that bed. If you have questions ask away ass many of us have been there done that. For most of us life returns to normal following surgery it may take time but people are surprisingly adaptive.
We are here if you need us.

Anne, sorry you have to be here. I was diagnosed with stage 2 at 48 I am now 62. My bladder was removed, I have a diversion and it has changed my life very little. Once bladder cancer has become invasive bladder removal has shown to offer the highest survival rate possible. The trouble with bladder cancer is that it has a high rate of recurrence and by being invasive your Mom’s cancer has already shown itself to be aggressive. There is a bladder saving protocol but it is a very intense treatment protocol and if it fails you have to have what they referr to as a salvage radical cystectomy. Also the protocol should be done at a cancer center of excellence that has a history of using the protocol, I was in treatment from Oct. to May. I went through it myself and after 20 trips to chemotherapy and 40 to radiation the cancer came back within months. The radiation can do a lot of damage to surrounding tissue and complicate surgery. Having been weakened by the intense chemotherapy and radiation it greatly prolonged my recovery. Looking back I realize that I was more intent on saving my bladder than saving my life.
What ever your Mom does know we are here for both of you.