They didn't get all the cancer after surgery!

TR1492,
They checked a total of seven nodes surrounding the bladder area for me ( all clean). it looks like the doctors are consistent in waiting until recovery from the surgery before starting Chemo. Mine will wait 10 -12 weeks. Not knowing anything about the combination of Chemo for Prostate cancer, he may or may not have the same treatment.

Zachary,
I will have four round of chemo (Gemzar and cisplatin on day one, gemzar on day eight, and then an off week). The one side affect that I haven't read about for this type of chemo is the postential hearing loss. I will have a hearing test next week to baseline my hearing and then have one between every cycle. If I loose any hearing, during the tests the doctor will discuss the risks against the treatment. Have you heard of hearing loss as a side affect?

Sorry for the confusion - I have gotten confirmation before. 1. He also had prostate cancer - it was not the bladder cancer that got to his prostate, but a totally seperate cancer. The prostate cancer was very advanced, so it is pretty good that they went in now and saw it.

On the lymph nodes - they took the lymph nodes from 1 side, not just 1. The doctor said that they were planning on taking from both sides, but that they didn't because they got sidetracked by rebuilding the bladder - not really the answer you want to hear. But luckily, there was no evidence of any cancer in the lymph nodes they removed.

Zach - thanks for your questions - it is people like you and Wendy and Rick who really help others get to the bottom of the doctor speak and really understand what is going on.

Thanks again.

T.R.

Shouldn't his diagnosis be T3bN0M+? Was it bladder cancer in his prostate or was it primary prostate cancer?

And they only took out one lymph node?

Sorry for so many questions, but the lymph node count just doesn't seem right.

Zach

Thanks to all who have responded - just a quick update - the doctor said today it is T3bN0M0 and that it was in the prostate - which is why they took it. They also took 1 lymph node - but no cancer there - which I guess is the silver lining here. They want him to start chemo within 3 months - so hopefully that will take care of it.

I was T3a as well, but since I had lymph node involvement I had three months of chemo. If the lymph nodes weren't involved, Dr. Stein at USC told us he would have wanted me to have one month of chemo (Gemzar and cisplatin) "just to be on the safe side."

My chemo journal is in my signature below.

And Rick, you're a pretty strong-looking guy. Since you recovered so quickly from your RC, you should sail right through chemo.

Best wishes,

Zach

I had a very easy recovery. I went home after six days and haven't need any pain medication since I left the hospital. I have felt pretty good since week three. I walked 18 holes of golf with friends that past couple of weeks with no discomfort.

The doctors want me to wait ten weeks after surgery before starting my Chemo.

I went into the hospital to get a neobladder, but complications with my size of colon prevented that from happening, so I have a stormo and urostomy bag. I am pretty much use to the bag. The pad and bag have been lasting six days before I need to change.