Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support

13 years 10 months ago #32018 by Arthur
Replied by Arthur on topic Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support
Christine,
the chemo is going ok. I am getting Cisplatin & Gemcitabine the first week of chemo,then only Gemcitabine the next two weeks, then one week off.
They will do this for 3 rounds in hope of stopping the potential spreading of the bladder cancer to other areas. After round 2 the Uro will do another cysto to see if the chemo is doing what it is supposed to. If yes then continue to round 3 then sometime after that surgery to remove the bladder. If no then he will decide if the surgery is moved up.

This last week my white blood levels were low so no chemo. They gave me some meds to help bring them up. I go Tuesday for another blood work up and to find out if the meds worked.

The chemo itself is ok, but I have no evergy for the week and finally start to feel better just in time for the next treatment. Was this the same for you? How long after chemo did you wait for surgery?
regards
Arthur

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13 years 10 months ago #31933 by Christine Springfield
Replied by Christine Springfield on topic Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support
Arthur,

I hope the chemo is going OK for you. Not the most fun thing in the world, but you will get through it. My docs did the chemo first, then the neobladder.

What kind(s) of chemo are you getting?

Christine

T3/G3 - Squamous Cell/Transitional Cell Carcinomas
RC w/Studer Pouch 4/25/07

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13 years 11 months ago #31588 by Arthur
Replied by Arthur on topic Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support
Pat,
new doc wanted to do a cysto himself so he was able to see what he was dealing with. He did the proceedure this past Friday. He took some more biopsies which included the urethra this time as he said it may have spread or if it was there the other Uro didn't see it. I am not sure ifg I will ever get the right answer on that. We will see what the pathologist says in a couple of days.

I am scheduled to start chemo this Friday for three weeks then nothing and we start again for a couple of sessions. Three cycles in total, at that time we will probably do the surgery and remove the bladder. His goal is to kill off as many of the bad cancer cells as possible prior to the bladder removal.

Any thoughts on what to look forward to from the chemo?
rgds
Arthur
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13 years 11 months ago #31322 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support
Arthur..i'm confused...you're going to go through chemo before a re-TURB? I thought this uro wanted to see what he was dealing with himself regardless of what the other uro saw.
This doesn't make sense to me. Explain
Pat

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13 years 11 months ago #31319 by Arthur
Replied by Arthur on topic Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support
Christine,
the Dr explained there may be other alternatives to the Neo but in most cases and patients the neo bladder is the way to go. Since he is the second URO I am seeing and the first did 3 procedures with the last one showing the spread into the muscle. Now that I have the new doc, he stated regardless of what another r and pathologist found, he has to make the determination and see for himself. This is a good thing. I have gone through various tests to make certain everything else is working as intended and so far so good. I met with the oncologist and we discussed the benefit of going through some chemo in advance of surgery. As of now I am scheduled to begin a few weeks. Next cysto by the new URO is scheduled for 4/23. After that we will have all test results back, and can make the best plan for resolution.

My expectation is let's get it done today but I am learning that may not be the best approach.
regards
Arthur

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13 years 11 months ago #31245 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Newly diagnosed Invasive..Need Support
Since you live in the area, I would seriously consider Pat's advice to seek a referral to one of the uro's at USC. I live in Portland, OR, and my uro trained there and has the highest regard for them....he has sent his father there! You have the opportunity for some of the best care available.

Re: the robotic (daVinci) deal. The jury is still out in many cases. As was pointed out, surgeons who have had a LOT of experience with it do well, particularly with prostates. However, many hospitals are buying the machines and then the docs have to use them to pay for them. Experienced or not. And, as was noted in another thread, you do NOT was the doc to "practice" on you.

Good luck with all the decisions facing you.

Sara Anne

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