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Low grade cancer!
I am not new to bladder cancer but I am new to this forum. I am an 81 year old male who has had a successful prostatectomy in 2008 and was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2012 with a successful cystectomy. Earlier this year my bladder cancer returned after a biopsy and fulguration it was determined that I have low grade cells (CIS). My Dr. gave the choice of BCG or the wait and see opton. After having 14 major surgeries in my life and at age 81 I have chosen the wait and see option. I do have other health problems chronic afib and chronic diastolic cardiomyopathy. Since the onset of the non invasive caner cells I have been very fatigued whenever I sit down to read or watch tv I invariably go to sleep. My question probably didn’t require all of the above but was wondering if just he presence of even low grade cancer can effect how you feel.
Obeone
Obeone6 Replies-
Hi Ann, I follow the weather and am aware of the over abundance of snow in your area. I think the weatheer patterns are changing everywhere. I live in the Kansas City MO area Independence Mo to be exact and our weather is up and down. Today it is 23 degrees and summy but one day last week we had temperatures in the upper 60’s and 15 degress the following day. I am not a fan of winter weather and lookin forward to spring.
Edward
Obeone
Your question, “whether on not the presence of cancer can cause fatigue,” is an interesting one. Let me explain my situation.
October 2013 I attended a three day yoga workshop. I felt like wonder woman during and a few months after the workshop. I would say around April I started to feel a bit under the weather – mild fatigue? My lower back started to ache (was I practicing certain poses incorrectly?).
October 2014 I experience gross hematuria. I went to the emergency room where the attending ordered blood work. My RBC and WBC count (lab results) were off thus explaining the “under the weather” or the mild fatigue. My first TURBT was performed during the last week of October.
December 2014 – February 2015 I have had Mitomycin-C and BCG treatments. During this time, it has been a rollercoaster ride with “fatigue.” At this date, I feel good as good as expected from a 57 year old woman. I don’t feel “off” like I did last year, but I don’t feel like wonder woman either.
Does my response help in any way?
Edward–
Glad to hear things don’t sound too dire in terms of the bladder cancer. It’s understandable not to remember everything that’s said, what with all the terminology being thrown around, the stress, etc. At the beginning my husband always came with me to uro appointments, and I would try to write things down as well.
Good luck, and hope the fatigue passes. I don’t know where you live, but we are in New England and it’s tiring being cooped up in the house during this harsh winter and not being able to get outside much and get some fresh air and sunshine.
Ann
Small TA Grade 1, May-06; recur (2 tiny), same, June-08; TURBTs both times. BCG begun July-08, dosage to 1/3rd May-10, completed treatment December-11. All clear since 2008.I felt fatigue after my chemotherapy for lymphoma, but not after turbt. And my fatigue is different. I am tired to walk. Afib can cause fatigue too, especially if you take beta blockers. But mainly it’s the age thing. When I sat on academic lectures all older people in the audience were sleeping. Without any cancer.
Well I am embarrassed you would think that for one who has had several different ectomy’s I would not make such a mistake. I had the transurethral resection of the bladder. What I meant to say was cystoscopy. I do remember the Dr. saying that the cancer was in the cells only and was non invasive and that it was not likely to spread to the bladder wall. I will see my urologist in March and will have my wife write down all that he says. My memory is not good at all and I am lucky that my wife can take notes which I can then go over once I am home.
The question that I had about whether on not the presence of cancer can cause fatigue I feel sure that it is due to all of my health problems. Thank you Ann for your kind response.
Edward
Obeone
I’m not sure if the low grade bladder cancer would contribute to your fatigue, and it may just be a coincidence. My husband has afib and high blood pressure, and he gets very fatigued due to his blood pressure meds, one of which is also used for his afib (beta blocker?). Dr. is trying to change dosages, change time of day he takes the various meds, etc., to try to resolve the fatigue. (My husband isn’t the one who’s had bladder cancer; I am.)
I’m a little confused by your saying you had a cystectomy, and that your cancer has returned. Normally “cystectomy” means surgical removal of the bladder. Maybe what you had before was TURBT (removal of the tumors) or possibly you had a partial cystectomy, which I don’t think is too common. In any case, I’m sorry to hear about the recurrence. CIS, carcinoma in situ, is often treated with BCG. CIS is generally considered a higher grade type of bladder cancer, so I’m puzzled by the report that you have “low grade cells” and that it’s CIS. “Wait and see” is not usually suggested as an option for CIS, where BCG is highly recommended. On the other hand, “wait and see” rather than BCG for low grade papillary cancers sounds reasonable given your other medical conditions. Are you absolutely sure the Dr. said you had CIS? CIS is a flat type of tumor on the bladder surface, while papillary tumors stick out from the surface like little mushrooms or broccoli stalks.
I had BCG treatments because I had a recurrence of low grade papillary bladder cancer, and though I tolerated it well, not everyone does. BCG treatments can contribute temporarily to a feeling of fatigue, and to having flu-like symptoms, bladder discomfort and bleeding, etc.
Wishing you well as you face your various medical “woes” and now this recurrence of bladder cancer
Ann
Small TA Grade 1, May-06; recur (2 tiny), same, June-08; TURBTs both times. BCG begun July-08, dosage to 1/3rd May-10, completed treatment December-11. All clear since 2008.Sign In to reply.
