One year after RC Lymph nodes swollen

Hi Katherine,

Oh...I've heard many folks complain about how long it takes to get the digestive system working well again post-op. And of course the pain meds make things harder (no pun intended), I suppose they could be working against him at this point. Hopefully that will be the cause of the problems and they can be sorted out. Diet,exercise and lots and lots of fluids are in order for the post-op period.

Chemo also can really mess up someone's digestive system with either constipation or diarrhea...not always, but sometimes.

Here's hoping things go better for your friend very soon.
Wendy

Hello Wendy,

Hmm, your comments are interesting. The pain seems to be all over but is not in the lymph nodes at this point. It seems to be related to food, and Earl is now thinking about reverting to a liquid diet. He finds that the pain meds he is now taking makes him very constipated as well. He will return to his local doctor Monday, and the surgeon Tuesday, so we are all hoping for a clearer understanding.

Many thanks,

Katherine

Hi Earl,

Like you, I wonder how it's going with Allen and hope he replies.

I'm sorry to hear how things went with your friend, that's awful. I'm sort of surprised that the doctor cancelled chemo because I would think that would the way to try and shrink the cancer that may be in the nodes, or that is causing the pain. Where is the pain?

Sounds like he needs to get some serious diagnostics happening. They should be following him very closely so close from surgery.

All the best,
Wendy

Hello Alan,

I am new to the forum and am doing some reading and research for a dear family friend, Earl, who is eight weeks post RC. I saw your post from September and was wondering what caused the swollen lymph nodes - about two weeks ago Earl experienced a swollen lymph node and now has many. He was about to begin chemo yesterday but the doctor decided against it when Earl pointed out the swelling (coupled with the extreme pain he is experiencing).

Many thanks,

Katherine

Hi Alan,

I imagine you'll be set up with more tests to determine what has caused the lymph nodes to swell (maybe a biopsy? PET scan?) and what that lung spot is about.

Unfortunately bladder cancer can metastasize to just about anywhere. And once a person has been dxed with cancer, the risk of a second cancer rises as well. That said, lung spots can be benign, swollen nodes can be due to reasons other than cancer.

Now to get through the coming time until you know what is going on.

Worst case would be a course of chemo if it is indeed a recurrence of bladder cancer. I hope it's not necessary for you.

Wendy

One year ago I was diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer and needed to have an RC. I ended up with an indiana pouch. No chemo was done either prior too or after the operation. All of the Lymph node biopsies came back clean. The pouch has worked just great for over a year. In May of this year I had a complete checkup with CT (with contrast) everything was clean.

After developing a sever pain in my right hip a CT with contrast was done once again. It revealed swolen lymph nodes and a 1cm spot on my right lower lung. neither of which were on the May CT.

My question is: Has anyone gone through an RC and had developed these same issues? Is this Metastised Bladder Cancer in the Lung?

Alan