-
gary’s story
It started about 6 and a half years ago. I noticed that I had been going to the bathroom allot more than normal, then one day I started peeing blood. Not just a little but bright red and clots. So I went to a doctors office and the nurse practitioner said it was a infection. She gave me antibiotics and told me to come back in 2 weeks. The bleeding went on and off for about 6 months. My wife is a nurse for a privet practice. I was at her office one day and she mentioned something to her boss about it. She did a urine test for blood, made a phone call, and told me to go across town to this uro that she knew, he would be waiting for me. That was 10:00 AM. He scoped me and said I had 5 tumors and it was cancer. He sent me for x rays and ultrasound and by 2:00 PM I was in surgery. By 5:00 PM I was at home saying what the heck just happened. Went back the next day to get the cath removed and started BCG. Did that for 6 weeks an d started my 3 month check ups. I have had 6 surgeries for bladder cancer. I found ABLCS about a year ago and have been here every sense.I consider everyone here friends, and don’t know what I would do with out you all.
T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 200515 Replies-
Doc.
So Good to hear from you my friend. I’m glad you checked in to let us know how you are doing. Its okay to be down once in awhile, but its NOT okay to scare the heck out of us.
Please next time just post something like: I’m OK. I will talk later.
Man its good to hear your alright. :woohoo:
Hey! While you guys were hiding from the tornado’s, we were digging out from a blizzard last Wednesday only to get hit again on Saturday. About 18 inches all total so far, but its still snowing. The winds were at 65MPH off of Lake Superior but have slowed way down now thank God. Mike Sidell of The Weather Channel was here during the worst of it.
Talk to you later Pal.
Mark
Age 55
Diagnosed BC 12/20/2011 Ta No Mo 0a Non-Invasive At age 48
“Please don’t cry because it is over….. Smile because it happened!” {Dr. Seuss} :)
Hey Doc… I was so relieved when I saw your post pop into my email. We got kinda used to you being around here. It does seem that life piles it on way too deep sometimes and it’s almost impossible not to feel down. The important thing is to recognize that and hang in there until we adjust to the weight that’s bearing down and start to push back against it. And now you’ve done that!
You have had so many things to deal with over the last year. I think the way you’ve managed through it all shows just how tough you really are!
I gotta say that this crazy weather has gotten to me too. I’ve spent way too much time in the basement this past week with warnings going off all around us. I hope your damage wasn’t too extensive but the important thing is that you’re still here!!! And that deserves a BIG snap!!! :) :laugh: :woohoo:
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN
Diesel,
Glad you are doing better and hope you have brighter days ahead.
Anita
Anita
Forum Moderator
Caregiver
A whole dang lot of us care Gary! Glad you are coming out of it!!!! :)
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.
I’m still here! I was having a bad time. With my back and neck pain, work, doctors, medical bills, money, and more tornadoes and damage. On top of some other man problems. I had a setback with my depression. But I think I am coming out of it a little.
I really appreciate every ones concern, it makes me feel like someone does care about me. :S :)
T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 2005
Diesel,
Hope we hear from you soon and that you are doing better.
Anita
Anita
Forum Moderator
Caregiver
Doc.
You got us worried pal. Please let us know how you are doing.
Mark
Age 55
Diagnosed BC 12/20/2011 Ta No Mo 0a Non-Invasive At age 48
“Please don’t cry because it is over….. Smile because it happened!” {Dr. Seuss} :)
Hey Gary… how are things with you? Haven’t heard from you in a while and am missing that snappy humor!
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN
My uro was not sure he got all of the biggest tumor, but the report came that he got all of it. He said if I had waited any longer I would have lost my bladder. My wifes boss is an alergy doctor but I guess she is very well educated.
T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 2005
Hi Gary and its great to know you are finally doing good. I had good in my urine and went straight to my gynecoloist[female doc] because at the time I was 60 years old. He was great in the fact he sent me right to the ultra sound but twice ignored the tech who kept pointing out to him the tumor in my bladder. He continued for 6 month to look for something in my female parts. My regular doctor finally send me to a specialist at the Universaty of Washington These Doctors are ?
Wow, you and Jim could be brothers from a different mother. Sounds similar except his bc was further along. It is such an insidious cancer. One of my goals is going to be sure there is literature in every Internists office in my county and talked with our daughter and she will do the same in her own county. It is one small step across the board. We just have to let everyone know about this and that blood…folks, it unfortunately isn’t always a bladder infection! Man doctors gotta get that fact straight!
WHY, WHY, WHY don’t docs understand that ANY blood in the urine requires a referral to a urologist? WHY, WHY, WHY don’t docs understand that recurrent UTI’s require a referral to a urologist?
So many of our friends here would be in much better shape if this had been done.Important story to share, Gary!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Gary,
Thanks for posting this. I too was diagnosed with UTIs for about a year and half before I finally got referred to a urologist who determined after a cysto that it was likely bladder cancer. Mine was CIS.
Here we are one recurrence/progression later and one radical cystoprostatectomy with neobladder construction later. Five years since first diagnosis (6 or 7 years later counting the “UTI” timeframe) and I’m coming up on 3 years cancer free.
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.
Hey Doc, er, Gary… good to put a name with a face now. Thank goodness for your wife’s intervention.
Too many doctors tend to brush off symptoms that are so obvious to us now. My niece’s 45 year-old-husband was having male issues and was told it was a prostate infection. After the THIRD round of antibiotics didn’t work, he had such pain one day that he had to drive himself to the ER. After several tests, he was told he had advanced liver cancer and a large colon tumor was discovered the next day. They admitted him on the spot and started aggressive chemo but it was too late by then. So sad as he was at the top of his career and they had three young boys ages 11, 9, and 7. He lasted six months after diagnosis. I can’t help but think he should still be here but for their thinking that a healthy and fit 40-something man could not have anything too serious.
But we can’t rewrite history and have to put ourselves in Drive every day to move forward. I do however, spend lots of time in Neutral!
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN
HI Gary! You have really been on a whirlwind BC trip , huh?! I know how you feel about finding ABLCS. I’ve gotten more good info. from this site than in all the URO visits. Dr. was definitely good at pre- and actual surgery, but not to good on how to live after. Everyone here always very willing to give good advice and very welcoming. Hope you continue to improve and all your follow-ups area clear!
Lynda
Lynda3 years UTIs
Indiana Pouch – July 2010
Pulmonary Met. – May 2011
Chemo started June 2011Sign In to reply.
