Advice to newly diagnosed

8 years 5 months ago #49445 by OldEngineer
Replied by OldEngineer on topic Advice to newly diagnosed
Thank you again George for your well-reasoned thoughts and advice, as you indicated nothing focuses a human like an imminent threat to his or her existence; sad but true!

Well the good news is that my second TURBT was done last Friday (Sept 25th), just got the pathology results and they were all negative, so at the moment at least, I appear to be cancer free!! Start the BCG process either next week or the following week. But for now, just savoring the miracles of modern medicine!! And needless to say, I wish you (and everyone else on the forum) a wonderful prognosis on your situation, we will not succumb to this disease without a fight, and we are used to winning such fights!!

T1 high grade transcell diagnosed 8/14/2015
TURBT 8/21/2015, removed tumor (17mmX14mmX11mm)
Repeat TURBT performed 9/25/2015
Pathology Report: no residual cancer detected
BCG planned starting in October

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8 years 5 months ago #49430 by anthonyve
Replied by anthonyve on topic Advice to newly diagnosed
Hi
regarding the insertion of the catheter,I know just how you feel.

A few decades ago, I had a catheter inserted in a military field hospital and it was a most unpleasant experience. I still remember it... vividly.

So, I had the same concern.

Let me put your mind at rest.

Before inserting the catheter the nurse applies a numbing gel, which is itself completely painless. After that, I didn't feel any pain at all with any of my BCG insertions.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Anthony
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8 years 6 months ago - 8 years 6 months ago #49391 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic Advice to newly diagnosed
George,

I ALWAYS look forward to your posts! I once visited the finger lakes area some 40 years ago. If I ever make it that way again, I will make an effort to meet!

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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8 years 6 months ago #49388 by GKLINE
Replied by GKLINE on topic Advice to newly diagnosed
Rich
Hello my friend.
You are not going to die from bc. I didn't, and I had 2 TURBs and a Total Bladder removal and replumb job, seven years ago. And I was SCARED as hell, just like you.
But since then, I have done so many things, I can hardly remember my life before bc. It must have been boring as hell. Since bc, I have acted in 5 plays and sung in front of a lot of people, my business has nearly failed and we pushed it back to health to the point that it is far better than it was before 2008. I've met some of the greatest people on this site(and now you)and lost some too. I've raced my car in SCCA for the past 4 years and won three championships in the NE US. My wife and I just came back from a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy(we ate, we drank wine, we visited the Ferrari and Lamborghini factories) And I have found that life is so much more than it was before bc, because I stopped and found out what was really important.

My story is the same as yours....... And completely different. You need to find comfort in the fact that your Dr is experienced in his field and he will do everything in his power to keep you alive.
Keep us in the loop as to your progress...... We love success stories.

George

Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he's warm forever.

08/08/08...RC neo bladder
09/09/09...New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
The following user(s) said Thank You: Alan

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8 years 6 months ago #49362 by OldEngineer
Replied by OldEngineer on topic Advice to newly diagnosed
George - thank you for your exceptionally kind and thoughtful message; you hit the nail on the head, engineers and scientists (myself included) can easily overanalyze situations, it is in our DNA. Being a nuclear engineer, I always think about worst-case scenarios and how to deal with them - either to reduce their risk or to mitigate consequences if the event were to happen. But I take your advice to heart, it is good advice and happens to be the same that my wife is giving me. (My two sons are both engineers so they just feed my natural inclinations lol...). I wish you well in your journey too - ultimately we all die, we just need to work to ensure that it is not caused by this damned, dread disease. Very best to you -- Rich

T1 high grade transcell diagnosed 8/14/2015
TURBT 8/21/2015, removed tumor (17mmX14mmX11mm)
Repeat TURBT performed 9/25/2015
Pathology Report: no residual cancer detected
BCG planned starting in October

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8 years 6 months ago #49354 by GKLINE
Replied by GKLINE on topic Advice to newly diagnosed
To The Engineer.
I am having a good time reading this thread, As you are going thru the process and Overthinking everything, I cannot help but wish you the best as you go thru this. I am surrounded by engineers in the family and I blissfully went through the TURB and Bladder Removal without giving any of this a second thought.
After RC, I had my family of engineers grill me about everything. I assured them I was OK and also assured them I was glad I didn't tell them beforehand!!
As I read your process, and questions, I cant help but worry that you will worry yourself into a poor recovery. Please Don't let your mind take over.
Recovering from this disease is not easy. cancer has a way of playing with your mind. And Not in a Good way. I firmly believe that attitude has a large role in recovery.
As I was blissfully unaware of the many negative scenarios that arise from this disease, I was able to just muscle through them.

I see that the date for your second TURB is coming up and I wish you well. Stay positive and have faith in your Dr.

Sincerely
George Kline

Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he's warm forever.

08/08/08...RC neo bladder
09/09/09...New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
The following user(s) said Thank You: Cynthia, OldEngineer

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