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Reoccuring Bladder Cancer. Cannot do Surgery. Help!
Hi, I wanted to post this topic to see if anyone out there has had a similiar experience and can maybe point me in the right direction. My father is 64 years old and was diagnosed for the second time in April with Bladder Cancer. The doctors have waited too long and now the bladder cannot be removed because it has hardened like stone and fused with his pelvic bone. Cutting it out would result in him bleeding to death. He has had 8 weeks of radiation and several chemo treatments. We will be having the PET scan next week, but it is not looking good for him. At this point the doctors are saying that the only “treatment” for this is removal of the bladder, which is not an option. Has anyone had something similiar to this or heard of anything such as this happening? We are at the end of the road on information and don’t really know where to go from here. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. He did have an ostomy procedure done a couple of months back, but his bladder is still intact. He has started to lose a lot of weight again and really doesn’t have much of an appetite. He cannot walk very far without being in pain. Any Suggestions? ???
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3 Replies
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Hi,
I’m sorry to meet you under the circumstances. When bladder cancer/TCC has spread to the bone surgery is not done, only palliative treatments are used, such as radiation and chemo. It sounds as if your father should be getting guidance about what the goal is. I’m going to quote what I wrote for the metastatic page on the main website; of course only your father can decide what is right for him at this point, and in the future.
From http://blcwebcafe.org/metatcc.asp
Benefits from treatments include control of symptoms and possible prolongation of life. The most important concerns are:Will further treatments improve my quality of life?
Will benefits outweigh risk and discomfort?
Will further treatments add to survival?
What feels most comfortable to me?
Do I feel I can manage the side effects of each treatment option? What kind of support will I have from family or friends? Outside agencies?For help finding a second opinion click here
For a good list of links to financial aid, click hereMany studies cite the addition of 2-3 months to a person’s life as justification enough for aggressive chemotherapy. Ask your doctor how many patients he’s treated with the same therapy and how the patients did. Palliation of symptoms alone is still a valid goal in metastatic cancer.
Because the needs of metastatic patients are highly individual and many of the treatments are still experimental, there are no standard guidelines available to either the patient or the doctor. In some cases the decision is determined by whose opinion you seek — a surgeon will recommend surgery, an oncologist chemotherapy or a radiation oncologist radiation therapy. Often, the patient and family must decide on the course of treatment. .
When faced with two different opinions about treatment, consider seeking a third opinion from a nationally recognized cancer center. Although it can be very difficult to focus in the face of metastases, it’s important to take the time needed to investigate available options before coming to a decision.
New treatment modalities are being investigated in clinical trials for advanced bladder cancer; given that existing therapies are often inadequate, participation in clinical trials is often recommended for those with a stage IV bladder cancer diagnosis. See clinical trials
___________Best wishes, and here’s hoping the upcoming PET scan will show that treatments have helped considerably.
Wendy
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Actually I was just reading this thread and feeling that, if this is indeed the case, there was no way I could be helpful in such an extreme and unfortunate circumstance.
Aside from making sure that your father was seen at a major comprehensive cancer center and not just by local doctors, I only have my good wishes and prayers to offer.
So I’ll ask the obvious question–has your father been evaluated at such a facility?
Here is a list of cancer centers and comprehensive cancer centers. The comprehensive cancer centers are indicated by a little blue square next to them:
http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-names.html
Zach
“Standing on my Head”––my chemo journal
T3a Grade 4 N+M0
RC at USC/Norris June 23, 2006 by Dr. John SteinWelcome to the forum, someone will get to your questions soon as I am not qualified in this situation. Wendy, Zack or Pat are sure to be able to get you some kind of info to help you along. Where are you in the states, what stage was his cancer, and what facility are you being treated, this all helps out to guide you,,Ginger Beane
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