Wayne,
With a tumor that size and the wait you have it is VERY MUCH worth your while to get to the top bladder cancer surgeon you can get.
Bladder cancer is VERY FREQUENTLY understaged. So regardless of where you get the TURB done, you will need to get another one done at about 6 weeks after.
You can’t tell from a CT scan if it is superficial or in the lymph nodes unless it is very advanced.
Think long and hard about getting to a top bladder cancer specialist now.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
The thing is Wayne with a tumor that size you really need a super specialist at a great hospital with great pathologists. You don’t want any of that tumor remaining in there to re-seed and its a known statistic that more than 50% of tumors are understaged especially when not done in a major cancer center or university setting where they have high volume traffic in bladder cancer. This is not your ordinary cancer with many specialists and lots of funding. If you can get to Chapel Hill and Dr. Pruthi try to get your appointment now. Take advantage that you are close to a major center. Most people are not.
pat
Thanks for your replies Sara and Patricia.
I was diagnosed on July 13th. I am 48 and a smoker for 30 yrs.
I had no idea that BC could be caused by smoking.
The Urologist seemed pretty sure it is superficial. I am being treated in Rocky Mount NC and will have the TURB in the local hospital.
Patricia and Sara I am close to Chapel Hill so if it dosen’t look good I will check out your suggestion. Thank you for the info.
Yes he said it is a large tumor (size of a racquet ball) he said when he did the cystoscopy. I read about these symptoms I mentioned in my other post after the diagnosis. The pain in the prostate area is what’s really got me concerned. It comes and goes. I guess it may just be the tumor size. Is August 5th a long time to wait?
Anyway I appreciate your help and and concern. I hope you both are doing ok with your BC. I will post again when i get the results. All the best to you.
Wayne…..don’t know where you are being treated but one of the top bladder cancer specialists is in Chapel Hill, NC…Dr. Pruthi.
http://www.med.unc.edu/urology/faculty/pruthi
Sara anne is correct..there is no way to determine stage and grade until a TURB is done. Its good they did the CT scan but to wait until August for the surgery??? I question that especially since your symptoms have gone on for so long. If you’re not at a major university or cancer center..get to one.
Pat
Glad to meet you, Wayne, but sorry you have to be here. There is no way to tell the extent of the cancer for sure until you have the biopsy (TURB). Only after the biopsy AND the results of the pathology of the tumor will they be able to give you any idea of the type of tumor and whether it has spread into the muscle. AND the accuracy of this determination depends on the expertise of your urologist and the pathology team.
Where are you located and where are you being treated?
And of course you should have sought medical treatment earlier…we all should have!! Should’a would’a……Whatever, the job now is to deal with it!!
Wishing you the best of luck
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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