Most likely non invasive high grade cancer...:thoughts????

4 years 3 months ago #58759 by sara.anne
This is about as good as it gets...congratulations!!!

Just remember that bladder cancer has a nasty little habit...it can come back. So take the appointments for checkups with the urologist very seriously. The usual protocol is every three months for two years, then every six months for the next four years, and then annually forever,

Again, great news!!

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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4 years 3 months ago #58757 by Jessica0927
Well the doctor was wrong....path came back as low grade!!!!

Non invasive low grade urothelial carcinoma.

Architectural: papillary
Flat carcinoma in situ: not present
Lamina propria: present but not involved by Tumor
Muscularis propria: present but not involved by tumor

Thoughts??????? I’m thinking this is good news.

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4 years 3 months ago #58743 by sara.anne
Nope. Never had a recurrence. (your mileage may vary!)

BCG is not fun, but very do-able. It is certainly much better than the chemotherapy that many patients with other diagnoses need. There are side effects, and they increase as the treatments continue which indicates that the treatments are WORKING, kicking up the immune system. But you don't need to worry about these until you get a firm diagnosis.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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4 years 3 months ago #58742 by Jessica0927
Sara Anne,

Thank you! Positive outcomes make me feel better!!!!!! Obviously I hope it turns out to be low grade but I’m guessing he saw something that made him guess high grade. Have you ever had a recurrence in all these years???? How are the BCG treatments to tolerate???? I’m hoping he will make it ok. Thanks again.

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4 years 3 months ago #58741 by sara.anne
Hi there, Jessica.

Alan has given you some good information, but thought I would just add to it a bit. I was diagnosed with high grade over 11 years ago, did the BCG routine, and have been cancer-free ever since.

The urologist probably did take a sample of the suspicious area before he got rid of it. They usually take samples of multiple areas of the bladder. He then removes anything that looks like a "tumor" and burns off anything that is not a discrete tumor but looks funny.

The return rate he quoted is without further treatment. We are fortunate to have something like BCG which is the standard of care for high grade bladder cancer and is often very successful. Your dad has a very good chance of beating this!

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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4 years 3 months ago #58740 by Jessica0927
Thanks Alan! I thought that about him maybe seeing CIS patch too. He did mention “burning an area that looked as it could develop into something in 6 months”. I wonder if that’s what he means? Wouldn’t he want to biopsy that though? Not just burn it away???

Obviously I’m scared but I’m hopeful he will beat this.

He’s doing well today and the pain is improving as the time goes on. His follow up is next week so we should get path then. Thanks again.

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