Recurrence of CIS. Treatment options

Warren

Sorry to hear it is back. Kind of surprised your uro let it go a year before biopsy or that you let him go a year.
CIS recurrence after BCG and follow up maintenance is not so good. However, it is not yet invasive so I'd certainly agree that a top uro is the way to go. IMHO your uro lost his credibility already. Going for a whole year with CIS is pretty darn risky.

I can say without a doubt that I am glad I got mine out. Even though I have to cath, I am way better off without the bladder and prostate.

Good luck!

Mike

Warren,

That's kind of a tough call as to what to do. Some will say a RC is called for, others will say to keep going the conservative route and spare the bladder. Myself, if I have a reocurrence I'll go back the MSK and would strongly consider the RC if it was suggested to me.

As you're aware, CIS is high grade and can become invasive thus lessening your long term prognosis. A reocurrence while on BCG is not a very promising sign. Being in healthcare may change our view a bit also (I'm a pharmacist in a hospital). I see what can happen when cancer advances and would therefore more likely go the RC route sooner if things don't look encouraging.

I'm sorry to hear about your partner's diagnosis (as well as yours), but in my opinion you have to do what's right for you right now. Being out for 6-8 weeks can create a lot of problems, but so would your cancer becoming invasive. You might have to retire all together if that happened. I don't know much about running a doctors office, but maybe you could get a NP or a rent a doc to put out any fires while your out if it comes down to that. In my opinion now your obligation is to yourself and family 1st.

I guess my advice to you is get a 2nd opinion at a major bladder cancer center. Once you have all the facts and opinions then make the decision that seems best to you and you family. I hope everything works out for you. Keep us posted.

Warren,

Pleased to meet you. I think that if it were me I would go for the treatment. I don't see where an RC should be a first choice in your situation. Yes it "could" shorten you'r life, but not always. And if it did, by how much?

I hope others will challenge this issue. I feel it is a very difficult choice to make. And there is no right or wrong answer. Each of us have to make some what "Leaps of Faith" choices with our treatments. And the more help we get with them, there better are decisions will be in the long run.

Please keep us abreast of how things are going. It is really nice to know that I might be facing these problems 10 years from now.

When I was first diagnosed I was sure it would all be done with in months like my Dad. But now, with the help of everyone on this site, and one heck of a good Urologist. I know I will be around a lot longer than a few months.

Prayers be with you.

Mark

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