Looking for Information - Cancer travels to Kidneys

If indeed it is bladder cancer that has spread to his kidney (as opposed to kidney cancer), then yes, sorry to say it has metastasized.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have; everyone here started out in exactly the same place you're in right now--overwhelmed by the diagnosis and confused by the terms and procedures. Nineteen months ago I knew exactly zero about bladder cancer.

Hi, this is my first post. My Dad had TURBT for transitional cell carcinoma (Ta/G3 – superficial TCC), high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, non-invasive in August and had a recurrence resulting in another TURBT last week. Unfortunately during the TURBT he had obturator reflex which resulted in his bladder being perforated during the procedure necessitating him to be sent home with a catheter.

The urologist called with the pathology report and said that the cancer is now in his left kidney and it would have to be removed. He also said that the cancer in his bladder is deeper than it was originally but I don't have the stage/grade yet. He said that we will need to consult with a urology oncologist about this and also discuss the possibility of removing my Dad's bladder.

At the risk of sounding ignorant, can someone tell me whether or not his cancer has metastasized? I'm just uncertain because the kidneys are connected to the bladder via the ureters. I'm also worried that cancer cells may have spread due to the perforation that occurred during the last TURBT.

Can anyone shed a little light on this topic for me?

Hi,

Yes, there is a lot of hope for long term survival after upper tract involvement of TCC. The usual treatment is surgery, removal of the kidney and ureter. Sometimes chemo might be recommended as well. Most TCC upper tract disease is treated similarly to regular bladder cancer, though the surgery is usually done laparoscopically as with regular kidney cancer. (this approach is being tried in bladder cancer too but still very new in that context).

You would do well to contact an expert TCC/upper tract disease because of the relative rarity of it, most doctors won't know the best way to go. Experience counts. But like Cynthia, I know people doing well, many years down the road.

The common wisdom says that the outcome of upper tract TCC depends much upon the grade and stage of the tumor discovered, the earlier the dx the better. As with all cancer.

Wishing you well,
Wendy

Is there anyone out their that the cancer has traveled to their kidneys? Is so what is the treatment? Is there any hope for long term survival if caught early in one kidney and it is TCC?

Thanks Joe