Recurrent bladder cancer

5 years 9 months ago #55483 by Jack R
Replied by Jack R on topic Recurrent bladder cancer
User88 or BR

Others here offered thoughts on what was most important while dealing with cancer, long before I found this place. Their advice has proven true, and more importantly, proven useful..

"Your doctor and care team will be your best friends for a long time. Always have a doctor you can communicate with; one who will answer all your questions and respond to your concerns. Have a care team that is available to help you as soon as a problem arises. Keep your care team informed about ALL your concerns and problems; they can't help you if they don't know and understand your needs."

Lifestyle is up to each of us. We each have our own goals, hopes and dreams. We each also have duties and responsibilities to others. We each must find our own way to balance our individual conflicting demands. How are we doing ?
John Lennon expressed it as, "We're doing what we can".

Best,
Jack

6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021

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5 years 9 months ago #55481 by User88
Replied by User88 on topic Recurrent bladder cancer
Thank you again dear jack.
Im enjoying your educated answers so.let me ask another one or two:)

1. What the most important tip you have for patient like me for the future of my cancer treatment.

2. Do you recommend special life style? How you mange your life style?
I try to eat healthy foods and drink alot of water and green tea.

BR

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5 years 9 months ago #55480 by Jack R
Replied by Jack R on topic Recurrent bladder cancer
User88,

Only you and your doctors know your full history and current condition. You and your doctors will need to make the decision of which doctors are best for you.

There are no doctors on this website. Just patients asking questions and sharing what they have learned during the cancer experience.

Given your description of high grade, recurrent and CIS cancers, I would want, both a urologist and an oncologist coordinating my care.

Ask your doctors, who is best equipped to provide care for YOUR situation.

If you post your general location, someone here may have a recommendation of a doctor or facility they found helpful.

Best
Jack

6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

5 years 9 months ago #55479 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic Recurrent bladder cancer
Thanks, hopefully Jack got you answered properly. My mistake!

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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5 years 9 months ago #55478 by User88
Replied by User88 on topic Recurrent bladder cancer
Hi jack.

Thank you for the detailed answer!

Do i need to go to urolog-oncologist or Any oncologist is ok?



Wish you and all the friends here good health.

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5 years 9 months ago #55477 by Jack R
Replied by Jack R on topic Recurrent bladder cancer
User88,

Many medical standards are local in nature. This has proven to be the case in my area for bladder cancer care.

The timing of when a urologist makes the referral to an oncologist varies. It is a call made by the individual urologist. If BCG is the ONLY cancer treatment offered by the urologist, and if BCG is suspected of not providing adequate results, that would be a time to refer to a cancer specialist - the oncologist.

A PET scan differs from a CT. The PET scan focuses on active tumor cells that show up after being marked by an injected radio-tracer. Again, it an individual doctor's decision when to have a PET scan. The urologist may want more information.

It sounds like you have an urologist who feels you deserve care outside his/her area of expertise, or the local standard of care may recommend involving an oncologist after a certain amount of time.

Adding an oncologist does not necessarily mean something is wrong. It makes sense to have a second opinion at some point in time, and to evaluate your situation using the tools that are available locally.

The nice thing about standards is that there are so many from which to choose.

Best,
Jack

6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

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