Home Forums All Categories Non Invasive Bladder Cancer my father was diagnosed with bladder cancer 10 years ago, now relapse

  • my father was diagnosed with bladder cancer 10 years ago, now relapse

    Posted by sibelsue on April 21, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    Hello to everyone,

    my father was diagnosed in 2008 with a Pta G2 tumor and stayed cancer free until December 2017. After almost 10 years he has got a recurrence now. The new tumor was identified as Pta G2 low grade (smaller than 3cm). Has anyone experienced a similar situation here? I’m very sad and lost, because no-one can really tell what will happen next. Does a relapse mean that from now on subsequent recurrences will follow? Is another 10 year tumor-free period realistic? Are there any non invasive bladder cancer survivors still living with their bladder even after 15-20 years after diagnosis? What does this relapse mean? Thank you very much for helping me out with those questions, i appreciate any kind of exchange and information.

    Alan replied 6 years, 9 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Alan's avatar

    Alan

    Member
    April 29, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    Mitomycin is usually done to kill any re-seeded cells and a cleanse of the affected site. Depending on the path report that may be the end of any extra treatments except for an accelerated “watching” checkups, probably to every 3 months. IF the path report indicates a high grade then it probably be BCG as an immunotherapy agent. While it is not a “piece of cake” it is NOT near as bad as chemo would be and very doable. Check this web site if you have questions on 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.
  • sibelsue's avatar

    sibelsue

    Member
    April 28, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    I’ve got another question: how is the general procedure after TURB and 2. TURB? Is there a need for a relapse prevention (relapse prophylaxis) for a Pta G2 low grade (smaller than 3cm) tumor? some doctors do advise a so “called”maintenance therapy over a year with Mitomycin, is this really necessary?

  • sibelsue's avatar

    sibelsue

    Member
    April 24, 2018 at 5:09 am

    Thank you very much for your kind respond Alan. May God bless you with a wonderful life.

  • Alan's avatar

    Alan

    Member
    April 22, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Very possible your Dad will live anther 10+ years. As many have been told or discovered it is more probable will die from something else. I have discovered the hard way as we age our bodies are simply winding down. We can age gracefully or go the other way. I chose to go forward. There are several posters that have been free 10+ years, me included. All we can do is approach each challenge one day at a time. The past 11 years I have had 2 hernias repaired, torn wrist ligaments, 2 TURBS, triple bypass, carotid artery and a melanoma and still standing and in generally good health. I think it will be the turnip truck that do me in! I say that not feeling remorse or being down. I just know too many people in worse situations: ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), myastenia gravis, end stage ovarian cancer etc). So, enjoy what we have!


    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.
  • sibelsue's avatar

    sibelsue

    Member
    April 22, 2018 at 9:43 am

    yes, but the statistics say that superficial bladder cancer has a very high probability 50%-75% to come back? isn’t that true? is it possible for my father to live another 10 years with this kind of cancer? he’s 71 years old by the way. are bladder cancer cells more active in older or younger patients – or is age irrelevant?

  • sara.anne's avatar

    sara.anne

    Member
    April 21, 2018 at 4:29 pm

    Sorry to hear about your father’s recurrence. But please be assured that this is not uncommon. One of the nasty little tricks that low grade bladder cancer has is that it often recurrs. This is why your father has been having annual checks with a urologist so that if it does recur it is caught early.

    The treatment will be whatever is the best for his situation depending on the details of the pathology report. It does not predict what will happen in the future. Once this is treated he may never have another recurrence, or he may.
    Many people never have a recurrence. I have my 10 year checkup next week and I can’t help being a little nervous since I know there is always that possibility. But the odds are that it will be fine.

    Your father is fortunate that this has been diagnosed now and that he can receive treatment.

    Sara Anne


    Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
    BCG; BCG maintenance
    Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
    Forum Moderator

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