Hi. I've been quietly reading this forum for a couple of weeks without posting. I was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer and I'm still pretty numb with the news.
It began with blood in the urine, blood tests, a ct scan, a transurethral resection (is this a TURP?), and yesterday, a pathology report.
The pathology report says the tumor is a "high grade invasive urothelial carcinoma. The tumor invades smooth muscle consistent with muscularis propria, and no lymphovascular space invasion identified."
I had done some homework before my appointment yesterday, so when I heard there was muscle involvement, I fell apart.
Although my husband and I listened carefully to my uro doctor, I can't remember all he said, except that the normal protocol is removal of the bladder.
The mass was 2cm, and he said he aggressively removed it, so I guess I don't understand, if it was all removed, why would I need to lose my bladder? Is it to prevent recurrence?
I know I'll have a lot of questions, I'll be facing some hard choices. But I think I'll leave just the one for now.
I'm so glad to have found this message board. Everyone seems very nice and knowledgable and willing to share from their experience.
Oh...I'm 60..well 61 as of last weekend, and I live in Northern California, and I am in the Kaiser system.