THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES!!

Scans give Dr's a good idea of things that are taking place but unfortunately they can't pick up every cancer cell that may decide to take off and move elsewhere. Cheers, Joe

Karen, I tend to agree with you, especially in this recent case we now know about. Surgery for an rc is not suppose to be done if other sites of cancer are present. Who wants to have their bladder out, recover, only to have chemo and radiation for metasticis. I suppose I think of multiating more as an improper technique for such surgery or what was done in off road dark houses to girls who wanted abortions years ago. The cases we are speaking about are ones who are mis staged, and mis informed, the ooops factor is inappropriate, the ones who deliver that kind of news should be held accountable for their errors, that shouldn't have happened to begin with. We are fortuneate to choose our specialist we are comfortable with, and believe in. And how important is the question , How many of these surgerys have you done? It does happen to too many bladder cancer patients..thats why this forum is so beneficial to so many, we all remember Marcus, same scenario, its frustrating and it needs to change!! Ginger

Pat & Ginger,

I agree that a major facility is key... I just hate hearing time after time of how someone goes in for this surgery, and immediately following, before they even have a chance to heal and get used to their new equipment (so to speak). They are then confronted with awful infections and the news that the cancer is metastatic anyway.

Zach,
These are the cases I am talking about, there is always a chance for a recurrence, or finding out after some time that the cancer has spread...I am referring to those who are still recovering after a major surgery, and are then confronted with more news immediately following...I hope they find no spread in March, but I am thankful that you are completely healed from the first go around before having to face the next challenge...there are others here no so lucky...The butchered and maimed part was for those who have to face a metastatic outcome immediately, or shortly after surgery anyway. In those cases it is a Morbid Surgery.........

Just for the record...If my husband could get rid of his cancer by having his bladder, prostate and lymph nodes removed, it would NOT be a mutilating surgery it would be a LIFE SAVING surgery. I am speaking on the METASTATIC FORUM here, not under the newly diagnosed, superficial, invasive category. I in no way consider the fact of having a pouch or neo, or any other diversion to be a butchering surgery, I am talking in the context of someone who is likely Metastatic before the surgery, but the surgeon, hospital, lab etc...drop the ball and miss the spread of cancer, and then take the bladder, prostate, lymph nodes etc...THEN telling the patient OOOPPSS sorry "By the way you have 6-18 months to live"

IN THESE CASES, the surgery is a maiming, mutilating, & butchering surgery...and medically speaking it is called a "Morbid Surgery" just look at Wedcafe's own first page on Metastatic Cancer.

Karen,

When I first found this site I was under the stress of finding out my husband had to loose his bladder. Who ever talks about bladder cancer?? I never heard of it myself. Now after the whole experience I can remember Pats advice, Major cancer facility, Doctors who have preformed many of these procedures. We were fortuneate to live in the vicinity of the Cleveland Clinic. So we had all of that. 4 months out of surgery now I would be very upset to hear, OH by the way we thought it was retained in the bladder but guess not, its in the lungs. Its is a crap shoot as Pat says. Homework is so important with this surgery, demand the best and don't settle for anything but. As a caregiver you must be there shadow, the watchful eye. Some aren't so fortuneate, the ones who have bad experiences are in my prayers, and the ones who are miss diagnosed and led down the wrong road should deal with the incopitence of those who are doing the mutilating with no hope of recovery. My husbands story is one of success, we are one of the fortuneate ones. In any case my husband wasn't mutilated, his life has been saved. Ginger Beane

Karen, if your husband had the surgery that so many of us have had, would you consider him butchered and maimed?

My 18-month follow-up is on March 12 at USC. If Dr. Stein tells us that--in spite of their best efforts--my cancer has spread, I hope no one considers me butchered and maimed. I don't feel that way now, and I won't feel that way then. I hope no one else does either.

Why Why Why it is so important to have a skilled knowledgable TEAM from a top Cancer Center ...not everyone has insurance to cover that....some just go with the local uro who's done very few of these surgeries.....its a crap game (no pun intended)..The single solitary skill of the surgeon on the initial TURB and the skill of the pathologist is paramount to your success to begin with.
Pat