Looking for Answers

Robin,
As you have read, Lorries husband experienced metastisis soon after having his bladder out.. These cases are very sad, like your fathers. It just seems like it should have been caught as it had progressed so quickly and in so many places. Thats why I wonder if it came from elsewhere. What your concern now is what to do for dad, and for support in that scenario. I believe you will find the way thru this by how he does in the next few weeks, the weakness as you said, may be from it going to far, the nurse is the first step, hospice the second. First you have to see if he gets strong enough to do further treatment, that will give you an idea how far to go...take care, Ginger

Lorrie,

I totally agree that someone dropped the ball in your Bob's case...You and Bob were actually one of the cases Ginger and I were talking about a few months ago. I think that Robin's fathers case. Her father was cancer free for over a year...then the spread was discovered. When the Pre-surgery test are done...Surgery Performed, and then within a short time frame...they discover a spread...that is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!! You are so right to feel bitter...Bob should have never been approved for the surgery...they dropped the ball BIG time in your husbands case...This is one of the reasons why I advocate for anyone facing R/C gets a second opinion, and demand every test possible to check for spread PRIOR to the surgery...Even if you have a different lab look at the tests...

I am so sorry that you and Bob are going through this...Is it possible Lorrie for them to change Bob from the Neo to an outside bag at this point? At least he wouldn't have to wear depends...etc...I think about you and your family so often and I am angry right along with you that this has happened...too many times here. Aimeth's husband, Claire, Bens-Paula, Marcus...so many have undergone this radical surgery just to find that the cancer was metastatic afterwards...Something needs to be done so that others don't have to go through this!!!

If I can just jump in here with my 2 cents worth. Bob had his surgery Oct.2/07. Pathology reports said he was clear- no further treatment needed. When he was readmitted with 1 of his infections,( within days of the surgery) they did a CT scan. Surprise!!!! There were a couple of nodules in his lung. Before surgery they supposedly checked him out thoroughly. He had CT scan, bone scan etc. "We wouldn't be doing the Cadillac of surgeries if we weren't positive that he would be cancer free"- that is a direct quote from the surgeon! Well, if you have been following my posts, you know that all is not well, Bob is dying. he is enduring Chemo to try & buy some time- it's Palliative only. Best regards, Lorrie- Do I sound bitter?

In alot of cases, my husbands included...Radiation is Pallative care...it is used for pain relief...Bob Clara's husband gets this as well...Angelo has had 11 treatments to his pelvic/sacrum/hip area...and he feels so much better. It is a very low dose over an extended period of time... Angelo goes for a bone scan next week as well as blood work...if he gets good saturation to the bone with the contrast...and his bloodwork is good he will get the lone awaited Quadramet shot (for further pain relief) sometime the following week...
Karen

Robin and Karen,
The time frame is what concerns me. He was tested and 2 weeks later had a back ache with led to all the discovery. One day he had the all clear, 2 weeks later he was not. Robin, as you can see we go over these issues with a fine tooth comb. I know its never a given that the cancer is gone forever, but it seems he had his follow up and it was missed. I always wonder if it comes from elswhere, in any case its a sad note we are meeting on, I wished we had met earlier. Was there a second opinion in all of this,?? It makes one think you may need a second opinion on follow ups in this case.. The nurse coming 3 X a week is the best thing you can do for your mom, I think the question is how much to put your dad thru now, radiation etc. quality of life is the issue... My prayers are with you,,, Ginger

Robin I am very sorry to hear about your Dad it just sounds unreal that he was ok and 2 months later the cancer had spread after the chemo.. Did your Dad get a bone scan prior to the surgery or any other tests. Joe