Hi everybody. I'm back. It's been about a year. For those of you who don't know me, I had high grade noninvasive cancer (TaG3) plus CIS in 12/2000. My urologist treated with mitomycin C instead of BCG and I remained cancer-free for 10 years. Unfortunately I had complications of treatment - a urethral stricture that caused me no end of grief and finally required a urethral reconstruction in 2010. I've had many follow up cystoscopies and often had areas of redness. Last year when I had an ill defined epididymal mass for which I needed surgery I asked my urologist to biopsy my bladder and I had CIS. Fortunately with my urethra repaired I was able to be treated with BCG. Subsequent to that my urologist continued to see a red area in my bladder, and he agreed with my request that if it persisted for a year we would biopsy it. I got the results tonight - a recurrence of CIS.
I have read that delaying cystectomy to preserve the bladder can end up shortening one's life. I have no great love for my bladder as it has caused me a great deal of pain, and as I haven't had an erection since the urethral surgery 2 years ago, I'm certainly not concerned about the sexual side effects of a radical cystectomy.
My urologist does not think a radical cystectomy is called for and would like to treat me with intravesical valrubicin. I'm tempted, not because I want to keep my bladder, but my partner (I'm a pediatrician) is retiring due to a recurrence of pancreatic cancer leaving me alone to run our practice. I don't see how I can manage being out for 6 weeks.
I told my urologist I need a second opinion and he recommended William Huang at NYU.
So, now I'd like you all to cast your votes and voice your opinions as to my next step.
-Warren
-Warren
TaG3 + CIS 12/2000. TURB + Mitomycin C (No BCG)
Urethral stricture, urethroplasty 10/2009
CIS 11/2010 treated with BCG. CIS 5/2012 treated with BCG/interferon
T1G3 1/2013. Radical Cystectomy 3/5/2013, No invasive cancer. CIS in right ureter.
Incontinent. AUS implant 2/2014. AUS explant 5/2014
Pediatrician