How do I get out of this....

12 years 4 months ago #40221 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic How do I get out of this....
Glad to hear the chemo did its job!

On to the next step. It's a worthy investment in the rest of your life. :)

Mike

Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...

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12 years 4 months ago #40220 by CatherineH
Replied by CatherineH on topic How do I get out of this....
That is WONDERFUL news, Douglas. Congrats... I know that is a huge relief!

Best wishes... Catherine

TURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN

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12 years 4 months ago #40219 by Douglas
Replied by Douglas on topic How do I get out of this....
Thanks again for the encouragement. Had a ct scan. The chemo apparently did what it was supposed to do because the doctors seemed pleased. But they still plan to do the whole enchilada. I am still hoping for a reprieve. Trying to set goals, though. That is good advice.

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12 years 4 months ago #40053 by Douglas
Replied by Douglas on topic How do I get out of this....
Thanks for these answers and words of encouragement. Still flipping out but slightly less so. (That may only be temporary.) Very positive, upbeat and helpful people on here, which is impressive. I will try to grin and bear it and hopefully get something meaningful out of this experience.

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12 years 4 months ago #40051 by GKLINE
Replied by GKLINE on topic How do I get out of this....
Doug (You are one of us now, so we can be casual)
Your Life WILL go on! You will have a big surgery! You will have some funny, not so funny, and painful moments! But you will have life after surgery.

Have goals..... mine were
Second Month after Surgery......Play Golf. Did.
Fourth Month after;...... go skiing. Did
Eighth Month after;......Get back in a race car. Did

Along the way I learned a few things;
My Family is the greatest gift in the world. My 3 girls were there for the whole term, and they have never been closer to me.
My wife and I are closer now than we were 30 years ago.
The friends I never knew I had.......
The way I look forward to EVERY day...
The people on this site. Never met them in person. Wouldn't know how to do without them. Don't wanna find out.
My Dr. How things changed when I stood up for myself and became a person instead of another person with cancer.
How a sense of humor can make this all tolerable and..........Funny. And I do mean FUNNY AS HELL. Find the humor in the little things and "This too will pass"

Oh yes Doug, Life goes on after neobladder. Sometimes it makes you appreciate it all the more!

George

Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he's warm forever.

08/08/08...RC neo bladder
09/09/09...New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]

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12 years 4 months ago #39996 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic How do I get out of this....
Douglas (let us know if you prefer Doug),

First off, you are going to one of the absolute best places in the world to be treated for bladder cancer. That is almost half the battle right there. The top docs at the top hospitals (specifically for bladder cancer) make a HUGE difference in outcomes.

Quality of life is really just great after the surgery. I know that on your side of the surgery it is a really, really scary thing. On my side of the surgery (I'm 3 years cancer free) it is no big deal. All the activities I want to do, I can do.

There are a lot of folks here who've been through what you are about to go through. I encourage you to read through this forum (especially the invasive section) for questions and answers that others had and how we have progressed through all of this.

Surgery is tough and full recovery takes a while but it is an investment in the rest of your life and (IMHO) well worth it!

Let us know what specific questions you may have and we are happy to help!

Mike

Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...

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

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