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Just Received the basic news
Hi everyone. I’m glad I found you. I’m sure I will get a lot of knowledge and support on this site. I am a female, 72 years old, living in Granbury, Texas.
I just had surgery on Wednesday, Sept. 30, for a blocked right kidney and a blockage in the bladder. The doctor told me yesterday that it was not a kidney stone and he put in two stints to open the blockage. He also said that there was a tumor in the bladder. He said the “cancer” was blocking the exit on the bladder. I told him not to say “cancer” yet, that it might be benign. He responded that it could be benign but he’d seen too many not to call it as he saw it. He is supposed to get the pathology report back by next Tuesday and I have an appointment to see him then. He has made an appointment for me to see a doctor at the USMD Prostate Cancer Center in Arlington, TX.
I am scared to death, but from what I’ve read here I know that I want to go to the best doctor and treatment center possible. I have requested an appointment at M. D. Anderson in Houston and they are to call me back tomorrow sometime to set up the appointment.
I have been reading the posts here and am certainly confused with a lot of the terminology, which I am sure I will learn as I go along. Just wanted to pop in and introduce myself and hope to get support from all of you on this scary journey.
Henri(etta) Russell
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117 Replies
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Henriz,
Many of us have been out and am sorry I didn’t get a chance to say it was good to read that you are still cancer free! Microplastique? I am not all familiar with that term or procedure. It sounded like it is involved. Hopefully someone will be familiar with it.
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.
Hi Henriz, so glad to read that you are doing well. I have no experience with neo bladders etc, as my treatments have been successful and I still have my own bladder. I imagine that some other folks will jump in with input and opinions based on their own procedures and experiences.
Take care,
LillianG
5/2015 4x2cm HG Ta Papillary TCC; 6 initial BCG followed by 3 sets of BCG maintenance. Ten scopes – all NED. Now at scope 1x year.
Correction: I said the microplastic try was Mar 1, it was actually July 19.
Hi all,
Just an update on my condition and some questions.I am still cancer free.. One year on August 15, 2017. I had an addition surgery on March 1 to try to fix one pencil sized leak in my bladder .. which causes as many problems as the big tear in the bladder which was 1-1/2″.
They were trying to do a microplastique fill, but it would not adhere to the bladder. So, now I am faced with the decision of doing something else with the bladder. I am not clear what is planned. All of you seem so certain of what has been done. I am still totally confused.
The doctor says if he is unable to repair the small hole in the bladder because the stitches will not hold (which he says he will know immediately, he will have to go through the abdomen to do things differently. He can re-route the kidney ureters and go through my appendix and do a pouch on the outside or a stoma on the outside for catheterizxation. Or, I think he possibly can reroute things and close off the bottom portion of my bladder … is this the same as a neo bladder?
I do not know which route to take. Can I get some feedback from some of you that have faced these problems. I realize, for those of you that do not remember me, I did not have bladder cancer, but rather vaginal cancer which was right up against the bladder. When the tumor went away, it left a tear, or the Avastin caused the tear (fistula)….no one knows for sure. Any way, the bladder was damaged. All but the small hold (the size of a large pencil lead, has been repaired. But I am still incontinent.
Any suggestions, or advice, will be appreciated. When I was last here, I thought it was taken care of. Alas
Thank you all for your prior support.
Henriz.
Thanks for posting! I like good news!
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.
So glad to hear that you are on the road back!!!
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Just a follow up on my condition. The reconstruction surgery was successful. I did have to have a little tweaking done on March 1. So another 30 days down. I go back on March 30. The doctor thinks this will be the last of it. I certainly hope so. Who knew that chemo and CT scans could cause so much damage. Also my blood pressure is about to return to normal. So, all in all things are really looking good. I am very blessed to have such a positive outcome.
Good luck to everyone.
Henri
YaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaY Henri !!!!
Congratulations !!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE Love hearing that you followed protocol and came out with such a Successful outcome!
Thank You for the Good News and have a VERY VERY Happy Thanksgiving!
George
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
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New Man! [/size]
Thank you to everyone who gave me so much encouragement, especially initially when I was so scared, depressed and lost. You all helped me so much.
I have found that a positive attitude is a must. Anyone can win this battle. God gives us the tools. We much accept them and use them. He has a plan for us and will guide us if we are capable of listening to him.
I will drop in and keep you informed. Hugs to you all.
Henri
Henri – this is SO AWESOME!
I’m so glad to read that you are doing well. Good news like this is always so inspiring. I know that you’ve had a long, rough journey. Now you can finally breathe a great sigh of relief, and go back to living your life. I’m so happy for you :)
Please keep us posted on your progress and take good care of you,
LillianG
5/2015 4x2cm HG Ta Papillary TCC; 6 initial BCG followed by 3 sets of BCG maintenance. Ten scopes – all NED. Now at scope 1x year.
Henri… You have been on such a roller coaster ride, and now to have that come to a nice smooth conclusion is indescribably fantastic! I’m so glad you found this forum so that we all could be a witness to your story. I am very happy that your last surgery has been deemed such a success by your wonderfully skilled doctor.
Kudos to your husband for being a champion caretaker when you needed it, and your personal cheerleader throughout this time. Don’t forget about us. We would love to know as you continue to get great checkups.
Now… go live your life!!!
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN
Henriz,
Simply, INSPIRING! Thanks.
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.
I had my bladder reconstruction/repair surgery on October 19, 2016 by Dr. Charles Secrest, Good Shepherd Hospital, Longview, Texas. This is his speciality and I think very highly of him. He’s a good ole Texas boy with a wonderful personality and bedside manner. He made me feel very comfortable from the start.
He gave me several options about what kind of surgery I would be facing and said he wouldn’t know which until he got in the actually look at the bladder. Right before the surgery, he did tell me that the good news was that from the last sonogram I had, my kidney was not longer showing a blockage and was working perfectly. So, that was really good news.
During the surgery, done vaginally, he said (in layman’s terms), he took a slice of skin from one side of my vaginal wall and used it as a patch on the bladder. Then took another slice of skin from the other side and did a second patch on the bladder. Used his special “double hitch” stitches to stitch it all up. He said he did a really good job, and then it was up to me to let it heal. I had to go home and do absolutely nothing for a month. I would not sit in a chair or lounger. I could recline on the bed or I could recline on the sofa. He said I was to lift nothing, and reach for nothing. He told my husband that he had to do everything. He did tell me I could get up and walk around the house, but he did not want to me get out of the house..like get in the car and go anywhere. He said getting in and out of a car was the worst thing I could do. So, I followed his instructions completely. My husband was a real trooper. He really took care of me. Of course, I was able to shower, etc.
I had a super-pubic catheter during this time, which was a real nuisance, but no pain was involved.I just returned from Longview for my month follow-up last Wednesday. Everything was healed, the bladder looked wonderful to the doctor. He said there was no leakage. So, he took out the super-pubic catheter and told me to take it easy for a few days and continue with my life. Said he would like to see me in three months. Yea! What a wonderful day.
I will continue with my three month follow ups on my no cancer diagnosis, and then I am thinking 6 month, etc. for a few years. I’m not sure. I am continuing to listen to my guided imagery CD fighting any cancer cells that might try to reappear and will continue to life my life. I am a very blessed person and I have much to live up to for the blessings that have been bestowed on me.
If anyone is diagnosed with cancer, I highly recommend the best doctors you can find, and please check out “guided imagery” to go along with it. I do believe it was the guided imagery that finished what the medical doctors could not do. And a positive attitude is 110 percent important. You can beat it, but it is not a walk in the park. It does take work.
I am glad to report all my good results to everyone. In October last year when I was mis-diagnosed with bladder, I was very fortunate to find this group. You allowed me to stay in the group even thought I had vaginal cancer and you and your support helped me a lot. As it turned out, I still had the bladder problem from the cancer treatments, so it was wonderful that I found you. Thank you all for your support.
Henri
I agree, George. I am amazed that I have been so blessed. I know that M.D.Anderson treated me very aggressively with the chemo I was given. I also had many, many prayer warriors on my side and I believe God was very good to me indeed. I also followed a “Guided Imagery” program during the whole year. I feel that it had a lot to do with my recovery also. I think it all worked together.
Henri
Henriz
You are the miracle woman indeed.Going from stage IV to “cancer free” so quickly is indeed a miracle indeed.
We are all cheering for you as our poster child of recovery.Thank you for coming back and posting your success. I hope all of your Dr find no sign of cancer.
Best of luck in your reconstruction surgery. I am sure it will go well. You are on a roll
George
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
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New Man! [/size]Sign In to reply.