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CTs and invasive cancer
Does a CT show if a mass in the bladder is invasive or will I have to wait and find out after the TURBT? I mean the Dr would not be doing a simple surgery through a cystoscope if he thought it was invasive, right? I will be under general anesthesia during it.
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3 Replies
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I had a ct scan that showed no tumors in my bladder . Five days later the Dr went in to look and found five tumors that he took out. don’t have a clue why they didn’t show up on the ct scan but I just don’t put alot of stock in cts.
When a Dr goes in and takes out the tumor he can get a bit of muscle wall to see if it is growing into the wall. Treatment varies depending on what they find.
If the tumor is just on the inner layer and a low grade (doesn’t grow fast) they might opp to just check you every 3 months and give you no treatment. ( other than to take it out ) If the grade is higher (grows fast ) then they will offer most likely bcg treatment . If it is in the muscle they will treat it more aggresively.
Mine was low grade on the inner wall and has come back several times over eight years. They just take it out and we just keep on watching it. If the grade goes up we will aproach it differently. Most important thing is to see a good Dr. that deals with alot of bc. rocky9
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When I had my CT prior to my first Turb, the doctor was naturally able to confirm the mass but also thought (was not 100% sure) the tumor was non invasive. He could not tell the grade. It did turn out to be non invasive low grade.
Joey.
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Ultrasound, MRI, CT and any other imaging system gives the doctor an idea of what to expect but imaging can’t replace a good look. And while taking that look the urologist can remove anything that doesn’t look right.
A pathologist will examine the removed tissue and determine the type and possible invasion of the tumor into the bladder muscle tissue.
After that the urologist can tell you more about your situation and the two of you can discuss a course of treatment. Plan your follow-up visit and write down the questions you want answered. Believe me, you will think of something on the way home if you don’t write it down.
This forum is also the best source of information I’ve found outside the doctor’s office. The people who respond to questions and concerns have lots of experience with BC in its many forms. They can explain the terms your doctor throws around as if he were talking to another urologist.
Mainly, keep a positive outlook on your disease. I’m one of many who have survived BC. It took three TURPS, BCG and finally RC with a neobladder. A year and a half later I’m more worried about driving in metro traffic than bladder cancer.
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