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  • Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

    Neobladder construction ??

    Posted by Dan366 on March 3, 2008 at 1:08 am

    Start of Discussion
    0 of 0 replies June 2018
    Now

    I’m having my RC/neobladder on March 13. I was reading the brochure they gave me, and it says that in a normal bladder there is a sphincter below the bladder which helps stop the flow of urine.

    Is this sphincter left in place when the neobladder is attached?

    The brocure also says that because of the direct connection between the neobladder and the urethra, that it is necessary that the bladder neck be preserved. I’m having a hard time visualizing this. Is part of the existing bladder adjacent to the urethra spared to facilitate the attachment?

    Does anyone know of a good diagram?

    Thanks in advance,
    Dan

    Dan366 replied 16 years, 10 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • dan366's avatar

    dan366

    Member
    March 3, 2008 at 11:29 am

    Zach,

    You mention an internal sphincter. Is this internal sphincter removed with the RC?

    Thanks,
    Dan

  • zachary's avatar

    zachary

    Member
    March 3, 2008 at 2:34 am

    [quote author=Dan366 link=topic=1914.msg14185#msg14185 date=1204510093]
    I’m having my RC/neobladder on March 13. I was reading the brochure they gave me, and it says that in a normal bladder there is a sphincter below the bladder which helps stop the flow of urine.

    Is this sphincter left in place when the neobladder is attached?
    [/quote]

    Hello Dan,

    You’re–in all likelyhood–going to get to keep the external sphincter. Right now it’s weaker than your internal sphincter, since you don’t use it as much. After your surgery you’ll be instructed in exercises (kegels) that will strengthen your sphincter and pelvic muscles so you can be as continent as possible.

    Zach

    “Standing on my Head”––my chemo journal
    T3a Grade 4 N+M0
    RC at USC/Norris June 23, 2006 by Dr. John Stein
  • 's avatar

    Guest
    March 3, 2008 at 1:32 am

    Hi Dan,

    My neo will be 1 year old the day yours is born :)

    I know the bladder neck needs to be free of cancer in order to get a neo. At my 2nd TUR they did bladder neck biospsies to be sure. And yes, they do create it and attach it and it does work. Last friday I had a general anethesis thing done – uro did a scope of my neo, ureters and renal pelvis. He said it looked real good – made sure I was free of scarring and cancer there. Did kidney washes, too.

    We are here and rooting for you, God bless,
    Holly

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