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FISH test
My husband was diagnosed with TaGrade 1 bladder cancer December 2012. This May 2015 he had a routine checkup and cystoscopy was clear, but cytologyread “rare atypical cells”. Our oncologist/ urologist said he was not worried but wanted to repeat urine cytology and add FISH test in 3 months. He felt the atypia was due to the sample being taken after cystoscopy washing and that instrumentation could have caused some inflammation. The end result being rare atypia.
. The 3 months is approaching the end of August and I am wondering how many others have had a FISH test. I read there are false positives.if the FISH test comes back positive but bladder still looks good on cystoscopy, what then? Concerned now.has this happened to anyone else?
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3 Replies
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You are in good hands at NU!
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.
Thanks Alan.my husband spoke to doc tonite and he said he feels the atypical cells were probably the result of artifact instrumentstion during the bladder washing after cystoscopy. I guess the instruments can cause atypia. Next urine sample will be an afternoon voided sample. He just wants to be sure all is well, so is doing cytology and FISH. He told hubby, he is not concerned.
I have also read about false positives with FISH. That seems a worry to me. But, we do trust our doc. He is an oncologist/ urologist at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago. Sees lots and lots of bladder cancer.
Hubby will get retested end of August. Results with FISH can take 10–14 days. Ugh. Will keep you posted.
I do appreciate your kind response.
Hudson,
I am 7 years free and I schedule my annual cystoscope 6 months apart from my annual physical, so a cytology can be done every 6 months. In March with my physical my GP’s cytology showed a few atypical cells and immediately wanted me to see my URO. So I did. Once I showed up the URO said “what was I doing there” the test was of no concern. Besides a scope possibly tainting your test, my reading indicates an early morning sample can be often faulty so a second or later sample is preferred-mine was an early/first sample. That said, I will be certain to keep my cystoscope and cytology in 2 1/2 months, As far as the FISH. He said dislikes because of too many false positives, so he doesn’t do them. Listen to your body (basically self watch your urine and been self diligent for any unusual pain or discomfort or changes). I have to take strong antibiotics after every scope because we stir up beasties.
Net/net, just be sure you keep your 3 month follow up or maybe accelerate it by 2 or 3 weeks if you have more concern.
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.Sign In to reply.