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  • Decision made… Radical Cysto…

    Posted by Hox on February 25, 2010 at 4:55 am

    Decision made to go ahead with surgery… both Doc’s agree with the decision and will head to the hospital within 10 days… Feel really good about this. Have the best opportunity for the best possible outcome. Thanks for all your support< I will keep you all posted and then become one of the support folks. In hospital 3 - 4 weeks, full recovery up to 4 months... Hox


    Rick
    Humpy replied 14 years, 11 months ago 7 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • humpy's avatar

    humpy

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    mmc wrote:

    [quote]My opinion is that it is well worth the investment!
    :)

    Yeah! What Dr. Mike-n-stien said……………


    Age 54
    T1NOMX,Grade 3 Urothelial CIS (Carcinoma in Situ)
    Neobladder 5/19/2009
    Prostate Capsule Sparing
    U of M Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • mmc's avatar

    mmc

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    This 1/2 year inconvience is a small price to pay for life.

    As my uro said to me: It’s an investment in your future.

    My opinion is that it is well worth the investment!
    :)

    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.
  • humpy's avatar

    humpy

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Hox, It’s too bad it took BC to get me to quit. After 33 years, I look back and think how stupid. My life was being run by if I had enough smokes to make it through the day. It is nice to taste things differntly again, let alone, I don’t stink anymore. lol. I am very proud as well. It was quite an achievement for me too.

    I am 9 months post op, and I feel great. I really started feeling OK after 2 months. Feeling good by 3 months, and feeling GREAT since the 5 month mark. I won’t kid you, This is not a walk in the park. I remember saying about the 1-2 month point, that I felt like I was going nowhere fast. But once you get by the first couple months, LOOK OUT!! You will see improvement daily.

    This 1/2 year inconvience is a small price to pay for life.

    You will do just fine, Jim


    Age 54
    T1NOMX,Grade 3 Urothelial CIS (Carcinoma in Situ)
    Neobladder 5/19/2009
    Prostate Capsule Sparing
    U of M Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • jkolbinsky's avatar

    jkolbinsky

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Best of luck to you! As a family member, I just saw my father go through this on Feb. 1st! I’m so proud of him and I’m sure your family feels the same! Best discision of your life!

    As everyone says, WALK WALK WALK! This was the hardest thing to get my dad to do, but when he did, he noticed a difference! Also, as Mike said, stregnthen your keegal muscles! My dad failed to do this as well and now he is paying for it! Especially since he is sore a little from surgery, it’s a little harder to do them, so do them as much as you can now! :)

    He was in the hospital for 11 days due to complications with illeus, but once he got liquids down and kept them down, they booted him out of there! :)

  • hox's avatar

    hox

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 11:02 am

    Jim. Thanks for the note… I am actually looking forward to the weight loss… I quit 20 odd years ago… still one of the things I am most proud of… How long since your RC… Hox


    Rick
  • hox's avatar

    hox

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 10:55 am

    I have the opposite problem… I need to lose at least 20 so look forward to the jump start…not sure about the stage 4… I wondered about that… anyhow.. the nice thing was to hear his story… Rick


    Rick
  • humpy's avatar

    humpy

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 10:03 am

    I lost 23lbs, but have gained it back plus a bit.
    But then again, I quit smoking also. Coming up on
    one year for that. Never thought I could do it!!!!
    St. Patty’s day is the 17th, my mothers Bday.
    Anyway, best of luck, you made the correct choice.
    Jim


    Age 54
    T1NOMX,Grade 3 Urothelial CIS (Carcinoma in Situ)
    Neobladder 5/19/2009
    Prostate Capsule Sparing
    U of M Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • 's avatar

    Guest
    February 26, 2010 at 3:43 am

    Hox..don’t worry about taking off the weight before surgery…you’ll lose it after. Your appetite will change and it will take a while for your bowels to adjust. I actually put on l5lbs before surgery as they told me to expect to lose 20 lbs after and i did.
    As for your friend with Stage IV bladder cancer i’d sure like to know his surgeon and oncologist……
    Stage 4 bladder cancer means that the cancer has become metastatic and has spread to other organs in your body
    The size of the tumor rarely has anything to do with Stage and Grade. I’ve seen baseball sized be a T1 tumor and i had a small 1cm tumor that had already gone into my muscle..so go figure.
    And i’m pretty sure St. Patty’s day is March 17th…my brothers birthday…..Please show up for surgery on the right day!! :silly:
    pat

  • hox's avatar

    hox

    Member
    February 26, 2010 at 2:44 am

    Thank you all for your kind comments and support. My surgery date is March 27…St Patty day… and I am not looking forward to the immediate aftermath but knowing all of you have walked that path before me is comforting in ways that are hard to describe. Talked to a local tonight…he was 42 and stage 4 when they found a tangerine size tumor… now, 7 or so years later his life is full, happy and he continues in good health. 99% continent… Told me some of the downside…one for him was weight loss of 20 lbs… as I have 30 to lose I hoping to drop 10 in the next 20 days so I can resume my swimsuit modeling career… and have I got a bridge to sell you if you buy that… Today is a good day and I am truly one of the lucky ones… Hox


    Rick
  • humpy's avatar

    humpy

    Member
    February 25, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    We are all living proof that you made the right choice.


    Age 54
    T1NOMX,Grade 3 Urothelial CIS (Carcinoma in Situ)
    Neobladder 5/19/2009
    Prostate Capsule Sparing
    U of M Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • dukel's avatar

    dukel

    Member
    February 25, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    Hox; In a perfect world none of us would have to make these
    decisions. But i hope it’s the right decision for you. I know for me it was the right one. I only had about one month that was really tough, after that it got better every day. Hope it goes even better for you.
    Wishing you the best.
    Duke

  • mmc's avatar

    mmc

    Member
    February 25, 2010 at 9:49 pm

    I think you made a wise decision. If planning for a neobladder you can start the exercises now to strengthen the pelvic floor muscle. This brings continence sooner. As Webs said already: walk, walk, walk even when you feel too crappy, still force yourself to do it. That and Gum chewing are the main things you can do to get the intestines to recover.

    Sure sounds like a lot of time in the hospital!
    I had an ileus complication and was in for 12 days but that is not common. Average is in the 5-7 day range.

    Best of luck on surgery!


    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.
  • 's avatar

    Guest
    February 25, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    Hox..one question?? Why the “in hospital” 3 to 4 weeks? I know i got kicked out in 5 days…some a bit longer if complications…but if the bowels move they’ll boot you out of there. Just a new trick thats been used of late…chew gum for 15 minutes every hour or so…it gets things moving..just don’t swallow it!! They’re now doing this with C-sections also i’ve read. I wonder how much grant money went to discovering that little trick??? :dry:
    At any rate i wish you a speedy recovery and please keep us posted.
    Pat

  • webs's avatar

    webs

    Member
    February 25, 2010 at 5:00 pm

    Hox know that we will be with you in spirit and that we are here to answer any questions you have before or after surgery.

    Just remember that as soon as you can after surgery walk. Walk as much as possible. You will feel horrible walk anyway. The more you walk the faster you get out of there. B)

    Hospital food sucks, but do not worry you do not have to eat it. :P The minute they let you eat again they let you out.

    I am sure the others will chime in.

    Webs

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