sara.anne wrote: your reading is correct....the nasty little secret about low grade bladder cancer IS that is does tend to recur. This is why the exam schedule that your doctor proposes is critical. You must be scrupulous about keeping those appointments! I am now 8 years out, on yearly exams, and still cancer-free.
Like you, I was never a smoker but my husband was (died of lung cancer) so I sometimes wonder if second-hand smoke was not a factor. But we will never know.
One more thing, be sure to get copies of the pathology reports for your records. The more information you have the better off you will be.
No worries about keeping my appointments. I've been followed by an oncologist & dermatologist since being treated for metastatic melanoma in the early 90s. (By staging I was in the 30% 5-year survival group at the time of that diagnosis, so I consider myself blessed). And my wife is about 3 years out from low grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland, still has regular follow up with the head&neck surgeon. So just one more to add to our already full plate of Dr visits!
I do have a copy of my pathology. Plus I should be able to access my records through the "patient portal" - but it takes a while for records to show up there, think they wait till they are "officially" signed by the providers before they post stuff.
Also I work in health care, so am certainly aware of the importance of keeping everything current.
Thanks for all your kind words, it looks like a very friendly community - and I have double reason for being here, both as a patient and family member.
Jim/OKC