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Just got the pathology report of my mum invasive Bladder cancer
Posted by keithli on December 5, 2007 at 6:08 amDear All,
My mum had RC on 24 Nov 2007 without any chemo before and I have just received the report of the pathology. The report shown that my mum is Grade 2, T3aN1, 2.5×2 cm tumor, peritumoural lymphovascular and perineural permeation present, resection margin clear and regional lymph node positive (1 out of 5).
The most scared me was the lymph node metastatic carcinmo measured 0.1 cm greatest dimension, though without extracapsular extension. 2 weeks before, our doctor said my mum might don’t need chemo, but now, I guess my mum might need to do so. We will see the doctor 2 days later….but now I’m very worry about my mum and worry about her.
Do anyone have similar situation as my mum?
timb replied 16 years, 11 months ago 4 Members · 8 Replies -
8 Replies
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Hello Keith
I lived in HK for many years. Its an amazing part of the world. I keep meaning to go back there. All the best to you and your mother.
Tim
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Dear Wendy,
Thanks a lot for your reply and info.
Actually, I’m come from Hong Kong, and therefore, I’m sorry that my mum can’t speak english and thanks for your invite for the chat.
I hope it is not as bad as I thought and I will keep posting if there is any update. Thanks again!
Keith
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Dear Keith,
Your mother’s diagnosis is not as bad as it may sound. The TNM staging system is here on WebCafe, on the home page under ‘newly diagnosed’ if you want to look; any positive “N” is a positive node, means stage 4. It was the grade that was staged at “2”, or intermediate out of high/low grade. Usually invasive tumors are high grade or grade 3. And the way your mother’s cancer was nearing the vasculation and nerve system around or in the bladder sounds like the way high grade blc works.
5 lymph nodes removed and one positive: with some luck that was the only positive node and it is now gone. The size of it is actually small, 1.cm, and that it did not escape through the capsule of the node is also a good sign, it’s a very minimal involvement and spread.
Bladder cancer is notoriously understaged, thus the best, most accurate staging is post-op. It’s almost impossible to detect lymph nodes at that small size, so your doctor isn’t at fault, really..it’s just the nature of this beast, I’m afraid.
Chemo could give her long term survival, I know other women who were cured, and I mean cured, after having chemo following bladder removal with minimal lymph node involvement. Chemo before surgery, as well as some who’ve had successful chemo after surgery. I’d be willing to hook your mother up for a chat, but I suspect you’re in the UK?
The women I’m speaking of are American. But..I am sure there are similar success stories in the UK.
Don’t worry that chemo is a fate worse than death. It’s survivable, it’s also temporary. Your mother is young, if her general health is good, good chance the chemo experience will be less horrible than you expect.
We can only hope and pray there wasn’t microscopic spread. Otherwise, chemo is the best way to combat this and it can actually work. Everything post-cancer is a gamble, and every cancer survivor must weight the risk vs. benefit of any and all procedures.
Best wishes and keep us posted.
Wendy
PS I empathise with your fear of chemo; my sister and father died terrible cancer deaths mostly due to the aggressive chemo (breast and lymphoma), my sister was only 46, my father was 38 when he died. I started out looking for other treatments when another sister got bladder cancer at 49 (’98), and have always been very wary of chemo. I have breast cancer (dec.’99, age 43) and refused chemo myself, had other treatments. But after years of watching what happens in bladder cancer-land,I came to respect that it can actually help, and that my prejudices were personal. -
My mum have took CT and then cytoscope in Nov and then the doctor said based on CT result he belived it is invasive Bladder cancer T2 to T3 but no sympthom it has spread. Therefore, he said it might dun need chemo if this assumption was correct.
Finally, the doctor has done RC on 24 Nov for her and the pathlogy report show that it is Grand 2, T3aN1, 1 of 5 lymph node has cancer with 0.1cm dimension.
I don’t know chemo can cure her or not, and worry it might just make her feel more discomfort but no cure.
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GuestDecember 5, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Keith, Her appt. is coming up, let the doctor tell her all the news, he can explain it so she understands, this is very treatable at this point so don’t get discouraged. She is young and can handle whats coming up, be sure to tell the doctor you haven’t told her yet, and go with her if you can. God Bless you and your mum….Ginger
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GuestDecember 5, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Well I am glad she is doing well, did she have a pelvic scan, chest x-ray, and other tests before surgery, I assume she had what we call a turb where they go in and take a look to stage the tumor, SO WHAT WAS STAGE 2 IS NOW STAGE 3. Right!!!
Ginger
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Hi Ginger,
My mum is 55 year old only, 1 out of 5 lymph nodes had been took out for lab and she is using outside bag. Before taking the surgery, our doctor belive that no metastatic and only bladder has cancer so he suggested no chemo is required. But now….I guess it might be changed due to T3aN1 is found for her. We will see the doctor 2 days later and ask him about this…
On the other hand, my mum is feeling well now, and she has confident that no metastatic will be, I worry she will get very down after she knows the fact…at this moment she didn’t see the report yet so she doesn’t know anything about it. But for me….it scared me.
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GuestDecember 5, 2007 at 11:23 am
Hi,
Welcome to the forum. My husband had his r/c on Sept. 14th here in the states. I was wondering if you could share with us your mum’s age, what deversion she received, indiana pouch, neo-bladder or outside bag? How many total lymph nodes did they take? Do you know what type of chemo plan they are suggesting?
My knowledge of chemo is limited so I will leave that to others you will be hearing from soon. How is she doing after her r/c?? I wouldn’t worry to much about mum sounds like her bladder came out in time and the chemo will take care of the rest.
Hang in there and more qualified members will be with you soon. Ginger Beane
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