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Very confused and worried
Hi my father is an active 68 year old man who has recently been diagnosed with squamos cell stage 2 invasive bladder cancer and goes in for his bladder and prostrate removal surgery next Friday the 24 august 2012 and I would be very grateful for any information or advice on what to expect as my family are i are not coping very well. Kind regards Aileen.xx
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3 Replies
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Hello and welcome to our forum. I haven’t had the surgery your Dad will be having so I can’t comment about that specifically but just wanted to add my well wishes that all goes well and he recovers as quickly as possible.
It is indeed a scary time, both for your father and all of you going through this with him. We all understand that here. As much as you can, think in the positive direction and remember that there are many in this forum who have gone through a cystectomy, although a difficult procedure, and are now cancer free and going on with an active life.
Catherine
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN
I was a bit older than your dad and came through it in good shape. I suspect that we would all prefer that our recovery would move along quicker. We would like to get out of surgery and get back to life before cancer. It just takes awhile to get the body back to what it knows as “normal”.
You are faced with many many questions about something very strange to us all. It is important to point out that there are many of us here who we like to think of as CANCER SURVIVORS. Sure it will be new, different, difficult so hang in there and keep your eyes on the end result. We can help explaining some of the future things. Expect About a week or so in the hospital waiting for the digestive system to settle in. This requires some unthrilling liquid food. It would be great to get home but maybe better to have talented med folks close. It seems like I walked like a duck for a week or so. Try to maintain a sense of humor. After he is home we will probably be closer and quicker than the hospital folks so feel free to ask anything any time.
I’ll be thinking of him Friday.
I’m 70, retired heat/air contractor. After 4 months of keymo ileal conduit (IC) surgery removed bladder & prostate May 2010
Aileen
Just read your post. My hope is that your dad is going to a bladder cancer specialist and a top cancer care hospital. The surgery is delicate and is considered major surgery indeed. But there are a lot of us here who will tell you our lives are great since the surgery. Just be sure of the skills of your surgeon. You really want a talented assembly line surgeon. A surgeon who has done this surgery many, MANY, MANY times. repitition is a very good thing!
But, now there is this problem with you handling this illness. Bladder cancer is a very curable form of cancer if you are able to catch it early. And family support and a positive outlook is so important. Your dad is in good physical shape and that is a very good thing. This surgery has a long recovery period. Having a good support group is going to help that recovery along.
After surgery, the Dr.s are going to get you up and walking the next day. Surely, the first walks will be very short. But as you spend time in the hospital you will be walking more often and longer. This also helps to “get the bowles moving”
And Chew Gum.. but don’t swallow it! This really helps to get things running again.
When they release you from the hospital, you will need the help of family. The recovery period is about 3 months before you can really “get back into it!” And the whole new form of diversion is another form of recovery.So, I have a few questions about your dad.
What type of Surgery are they doing? A neo bladder? What type of diversion will he have?But, whatever happens, He will need you to help him get through it. It will not be quick or easy, by any means. But you WILL get through it TOGETHER.
And we will be glad to help you along.
George
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
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