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waiting till next appt.
On June 24th I had a low grade non-invasive tumor removed from my bladder. I am otherwise healthy 43 yr old woman with colorectal cancer in my family. I did smoke working on 2 weeks today no cigarettes, but am using the e-cig to help the process.
I return in October for my first check and am very anxious What can I expect at this visit? What if a tumor has reoccurred? Are my chances not good with cancer in my family? -
1 Reply
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Hello and welcome to the forum… I am sorry to hear that you have been recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. If one has to have it, about the best case scenario is “low-grade, non-invasive.” It is very treatable but will require very close monitoring to catch any recurrences in the future. Until told otherwise, you should expect a normal, otherwise healthy life based on the diagnosis you received. I believe the familial history of colorectal cancer is a separate matter that will need to be followed up as your doctor feels is necessary. I know it is hard right now, but try to relax a bit and take a deep breath. No doubt this is a very scary time.
As I’m sure you have read, smoking is listed as the number one risk factor, but many of us here have never smoked, so that may or not have contributed to yours. That being said, if you can quit I would think that is so much the better for a variety of reasons.
It is generally thought that doing a second TURBT a few weeks after your initial tumor removal is good practice. That will verify that nothing was left behind, or has returned, or that everything still looks good. Speak to your urologist about that. Also, the cited standard is to be rechecked with a cystoscopy every three months for much of the next two years after diagnosis, then moving to six-months, then yearly as appropriate.
Again, welcome to the forum. Ask anything that comes to mind while you’re waiting for your first recheck.
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
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