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Need Help for My Dad
Hi, this is my first new topic on this forum. I originally responded to a post under http://bladdercancersupport.org/smf/index.php?topic=1487.0. It was suggested to me that I begin a new topic so that people could better view my post so I am copying and pasteing it here:
Hi, this is my first post. My Dad had TURBT for transitional cell carcinoma (Ta/G3 – superficial TCC), high-grade papillary urothelial carcinoma, non-invasive in August and had a recurrence resulting in another TURBT last week. Unfortunately during the TURBT he had obturator reflex which resulted in his bladder being perforated during the procedure necessitating him to be sent home with a catheter.
The urologist called with the pathology report and said that the cancer is now in his left kidney and it would have to be removed. He also said that the cancer in his bladder is deeper than it was originally but I don’t have the stage/grade yet. He said that we will need to consult with a urology oncologist about this and also discuss the possibility of removing my Dad’s bladder.
At the risk of sounding ignorant, can someone tell me whether or not his cancer has metastasized? I’m just uncertain because the kidneys are connected to the bladder via the ureters. I’m also worried that cancer cells may have spread due to the perforation that occurred during the last TURBT.
Can anyone shed a little light on this topic for me?
[color=purple]Several people have already responded to my post and I am so grateful to all of you. To answer the questions that were asked, my Dad lives in/around Kenosha WI. He is currently under the care of a urologist at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee by the name of Dr. Frank Begun http://doctor.mcw.edu/provider.php?816
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4 Replies
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I understand now how the Dr. discovered the cancer in your Dad’s kidney. I believe the hope is by removing the kidney and ureter will prevent the spread of the cancer outside the urinary tract system.
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSC
[quote author=Julie link=topic=1716.msg12761#msg12761 date=1200893255]
I would expect your Dad’s doctor to schedule him for scans to find out if there are any suspicious sites. Also ask if how the Dr. knows the cancer is now in the left kidney. Did he do a uretescopy and biopsy of the upper tract and renal pelvis?
[/quote]Julie, after the second TURBT the urologist ordered xrays that involved injecting a dye into my Dad’s kidneys by inserting a needle through his back. I’m sorry, I don’t know the technical term for this. When he called with the pathology and radiology reports, he told my Dad’s wife that fluid was also taken during this procedure, cancer was found, and that his kidney and ureter need to be removed. My Dad went to this urologist due to ongoing frequent urination, periodic back pain and then blood in his urine.
Caring Daughter, the relationship between bladder cancer and TCC in the upper tract is difficult to access. My husband had CIS in his bladder and was treated with BCG in 2001/02 and in 2007 TCC was found in both ureters and renal pelvis. The best way to get rid of the cancer would have been to surgically remove the kidneys and ureters but that would have meant instant dialysis and because of the cancer he was not a candidate for a kidney transplant. So his choice was to try and treat the TCC via nephrostomy tubes with BCG. Some people have had this treatment and done well. Meanwhile a CT scan was done of his whole body to ascertain if there were other sites and a nodule was found in his lung. The lung nodule was a tumor and was a metastasis from the BC. They were able to surgically remove the tumor.
I would expect your Dad’s doctor to schedule him for scans to find out if there are any suspicious sites. Also ask if how the Dr. knows the cancer is now in the left kidney. Did he do a uretescopy and biopsy of the upper tract and renal pelvis?
Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSCHi Caring Daughter….Dr. Steinberg at the U. of Chicago is a leading specialist in this field…….http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/physician.html?id=5617
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