FISH Test on urine specimen?

I don't know David...there's a lot of false positives out there with the FISH...I'd stay hopeful........Pat

David,

I am so sorry to hear your news. opefully, everything will be ok. will be thinking of you this week, esp. on Fri.
Keep in touch
NancyS

This past week, while on a business trip to Las Vegas, my cell phone rang and it was my Uro doctor's nurse calling to tell me that my FISH test came back "positive". I have a cysto scheduled for this coming Friday. From what I have read about FISH, it is much more sensitive at detecting low grade cancer much earlier than cytology. Hopefully this is all low grade. I just do not like the idea of having another TURBT so soon -- barely over the side effects of the last one and was not able to start the Mytomyicin C due to extreme inflammation from the TURBT on 11/30. Oh well, here we go again I suppose....

David

Nancy,
I am not an expert on terminology -- TCC (transiitional cell carcinoma) is the common term applied to most bladder cancer and that's what I was originally dx as having, although I had both papillary and CIS tumors, and even after 6 rounds of BCG they recurred after only about 6 month. Good news was that everything so far has been noninvasive and that's the main thing. You can learn a lot on this forum from those who have been posting for years, like Patricia, Rosemary, Wendy, Rosie, Zack and so many others too numerous to name. Dr. Lamm is also a great resource and he will answer your e-mails if you have a question. Back when I was having a lot of inflammation from BCG, I asked Dr. Lamm if that was normal and he responded right away. I shared this e-mail with my urologist and since then he has treated me with a lot more respect as someone who has taken an interest in his own treatment. I don't know if this approach would work with all doctors but in my case it certainly helped.

David

I see where you DX was CIS Ta - I did not know it could go back to TCC. I learn so much on this site. I had 6 BCG and a scope done in the hospital and 9 byopsies - all came back clear - next is 4/10. Hopefully this will be the same and then 3 more BCG. I thought once you were dx with CIS it was forever. I guess I have a lot to learn. I try to do all research - I will keep on reading.......
Nancy

Nancy,
Thanks for the very informative document on the FISH test. Sounds extremely complicated. I expect results on or around the 26th. Hopefully negative or just non-invasive TCC as before.

David