The pathology report said that this has a 80% chance of recurrence and a 60% of spreading. I'm trying to quit smoking, but that hasn't been easy.
That may be a bunch of bullcrap! Get a second opinion! Maybe if you had multiple T1G3's and co-contaminent CIS, it might start approaching those statistics, or perhaps those were the natural course statistics (i.e. no further treatment)?
With BCG treatments it should cut your chances of recurrance and progression (spreading) significantly.
I did not have a re-TUR for my T1G3 tumor, and spoke with several urologists (one head of the UWMC urology dept) who agreed that a re-TUR was not necessary. Alot depends on the skill/competancy of the surgeon. So don't flip out with all the advice over getting a re-TUR if your doctors are not recommending it. Both of my Urologists were confident I did not need a Re-TUR, based on the ease of the tumor removal and clear margins. Also know a re-TUR will also delay your BCG treatments. I was offered the re-tur though as optional, but declined on their advice. The urologists I spoke to were also not convinced I needed BCG maintenance (I did have the 6 induction treatments) either (which I opted not to have)
But you better quit the smoking now! Smoking is probably what caused it and the longer you keep pumping the carcinogens into your body, the worse your prognosis. Those carcinogens from your smokes are being filtered out of your bloodstream by your kidneys and dropped right down into your bladder to mess with your bladder lining and cause bladder cancer. I was a can-a-day chewer for 20 years, quit the day I was diagnosed.
I have done a lot of research on T1G3 tumors, so don't be shy if you want some info to read. I know I was pretty freaked out when I was diagnosed with a T1G3. I am now 8 months out with no recurrances and about a 30% chance of recurrance/15% chance of overall progression per the EORTC risk tables. If desired you can read up on my treatment course here;
blcforum.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1142294620
EORTC risk tables calculator;
www.eortc.be/tools/bladdercalculator/default.htm