How many..........?

I am jumping in on this discussion even though I have had my bladder removed. I have asked the same question on the invasive site. If there is any fear I still harbor it is "How Long" I have tried to look at this disease as a single incident that I have overcome. In the back of my mind, I am not so sure. Like the rest of you, I would like to hear some encouraging news.
Maybe I am hoping the long surviving members have gotten on with their lives and moved back into the normal world away from us.

My brother had the bc come back four times. He lived for ten years until Jan 2009 when he died of lung cancer. Even though everyone panics when they hear they have bc we never know what is in store for us on this road called life. Rocky

Bill,
I’m not sure I understand your question. Are you asking how many of us here have reached the five year mark without a reoccurrence (clean cystos) or are you asking how many of us have survived five years since our original diagnosis? I have survived four years (original DX July 2005) with the disease, but I haven’t been able to go more than about 18 months without a reoccurrence. Interesting question you ask, but I like to dwell on the positive statistics that Patricia provided. For me, BC is not a death sentence, but rather a very annoying and nuisance disease.

In 2009, an estimated 70,980 adults (52,810 men and 18,170 women) will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States. It is estimated that 14,330 deaths (10,180 men and 4,150 women) from this disease will occur this year. Among men, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the eighth most common cause of cancer death.

For people with noninvasive/superficial urothelial carcinoma, the five-year relative survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) is 93%. Seventy-four percent (74%) of people are diagnosed with this stage. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or nearby organs, the five-year survival rate is 45%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year relative survival rate is 6%.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with bladder cancer. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2009.

Hi Bill

I am 20 months, but I have a golfing buddy who is 7 years, and a fellow I met at the hopsital who is 9 years. I do not know a lot of people outside the sites that have had bladder cancer.
Jack

My husband is right at 5 years. His original superficial cancer reoccured at year 4 as metastatic. He still has his bladder.