Just curios if this could mean more..

Hello... No need to apologize. This is the place where "going on and on" is not only acceptable, but encouraged. Sometimes you just can't express those fears and concerns to your loved ones because we don't want them to know how worried we are. We understand that here. I'm so sorry for the loss of your father to cancer, and I'm sure it makes going through this with your husband an even deeper fear. I drove myself crazy for a few months with why and what had caused my bc. Finally the doctor just said no one really knows and I realized the futility of dwelling on it. I was able to slowly let that go and concentrate on the future. I think it's just human nature to want answers even when there are none.

The mitomycin wash is a precaution to ensure that any stray bc cells are not allowed to seed elsewhere in the bladder during the process of removing the tumor. I had zero side effects from having it done after my initial TURBT and am happy that it was standard practice with my uro. I had a catheter overnight and was told to come back the next morning. He said if all looked good and no blood was present, they would remove it, which they did.

As far as your husband afterward with his cath, sorry I don't have any experience on the male side of things. But, if he is unable to go within a few hours, let them know right away. I'm sure that will be in your discharge instructions.

Cindy... I'm wondering if the painful side effects you had could have partly been from the irritation of the instruments during your procedure. Also, levels of post-TURBT discomfort probably depends on how aggressive they are in taking biopsies or "scraping" the bladder (that always sounds so painful).

Let us know how things go with your husband and wish him well for us!

A second TURB is often done, but not all urologists do this. Some research has shown that the diagnosis can be much more accurate by combining the results of two. In my case, the first TURB showed papillary low grade, but there were some areas of "irritation.." When my uro went back the second time, he knew better where some areas of concern were and concentrated on samples form those. The second diagnosis included CIS....which is high grade and required immediate treatment. I am so grateful that he was so thorough.

The "instillation" you are referring to is probably mitomycin, which is often used as a wash after a TURB to decrease any chance of spread. I don't believe that there are any significant side effects from it, as it is pretty well confined to the bladder.

Cindy, yes,, bladder cancer does tend to return. Not sure that just because it came back now you should expect it to come back again. It is always just waiting to come back...which is why we are so compulsive about our checkups!!

Sara Anne