three kinds of cancer

16 years 6 months ago #7993 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic three kinds of cancer
Harley you're between a rock and a hard place! I sure would seek another uro's opinion since the bleeding and the pain started at the same time......but how to convince your dad? I hope someone else can jump in here...i'm stumped! :-\ Pat

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16 years 6 months ago #7970 by harleygirl
Replied by harleygirl on topic three kinds of cancer
The bone scan really didn't point to anything that would be causing his leg pain nor did it show bone deterioration. He also went to a nerve specialist as we were thinking herniated disc, but there were no pinched nerves. The spine doctor and the nerve doctor both think the pain is a result of an arthritic hip, but so far nothing shows up on X-ray except a little arthritis in the pelvic bone. Hopefully, the upcoming biopsy will be negative and we can move on to a hip specialist.

I wish some doc would send him to a physical therapist or even a chiropractor to see if he can get some relief. I know he could see a chiropractor on his own, but he is doing nothing until he gets the results of the biopsy. The spine doctor said the spots could be nothing but since he's had cancer, it's important to see what they are.

Another issue is some bleeding he's been having for the last few months from his penis. The urologist did a scope and said he saw nothing that could be causing it, but last visit he told Dad he thinks that the bleeding was coming from the area where they put the pelvic drain to get rid of the fluids that had accumulated in his belly after the leak. The uro says the area hasn't healed yet, but that makes no sense. It only started bleeding two months AFTER the surgery. Was the area healed then it became un-healed?? And, yes, it is the same uro that didn't order the pre-op bowel prep. Dad insists on sticking with him since they've come this far together. This bleeding started at the same time the leg pain did. Could there possibly be any connection?

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16 years 6 months ago #7960 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic three kinds of cancer
Hi Harley....a lot of us have leg pain after a cystectomy..its a kind of neuropathy thats associated with the surgery though they never admit to it. I actually went to a chiropractor for the first time in my life as my internist said they can work wonders on the lower body. He did some realigning exercises with me and cold packs and it worked.......so maybe thats all it is. But being 80 he has to be more fragile than someone younger..but i'm sure the bone scan showed any weakness there?
Its just a thought ... i thought for a long time i was the only one who developed a leg pain and i have since found many with the same problem. The difference may be that there is no sensation in the bone but in the nerves down the leg. Pat

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16 years 6 months ago #7952 by harleygirl
Replied by harleygirl on topic three kinds of cancer
When they removed my 80-year-old father's bladder in April of this year, they also removed the prostate and found that he did, indeed, have prostate cancer in addition to the bladder cancer. The bladder cancer had not invaded the muscle and the lymph nodes were clear. In June, he had X-rays and a CAT scan to try to diagnose what was causing him to have a terrible cough, and a spot was found on his lung, but thankfully it turned out to be nothing. The pulmonary doctor prescribed Nexium as GERD can cause a cough, and Dad no longer has the cough after taking the Nexium.

He had a bone scan last month because he's having severe leg pain, and thankfully the scan was normal for his hip, leg and pelvis. However, the spine specialist noticed two spots on the spine which he wants biopsied. That procedure is scheduled for this Thursday. Who knows? Those spots could have been there his entire life and no one knew because he never had a bone scan or back x-rays before. All the specialists he's seen seem to think the pain is being caused by his hip and that the spine spots would not cause pain in the area where he is having the pain. He will not consider doing anything else medically until he gets the results of the spine biopsy. Dad remarked that once you have cancer, every little spot or blip gives the doctors reason to think the cancer has spread.

Dad seems to be adjusting to his conduit and pouch. He still has a stent running from his left kidney, through the ureter and out the stoma. The urologist is in no hurry to remove it since Dad had that horrible leak that sent him back to the hopsital for 18 more days after he had been released. He's had a couple of UTI's and a slight rash around the stoma area which is being managed by painting the rash with Mylanta. His appetite is coming back and he would like to be exercising but can't because of the leg pain. He does manage to get around with a walker or a cane. He drives, is attending church and eating out from time to time. He jokes that most of his activity involves seeing doctors and having tests! Mom seems to be handling everything really well and helps with the appliance change twice a week.

If we could only get this leg pain issue resolved I think Dad would be well on the way to getting back almost to his old self.

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16 years 7 months ago #7554 by Zachary
Replied by Zachary on topic three kinds of cancer
It is quite possible that it is isn't three cancers at all, but is bladder cancer that has (potentially) spread to two other places.

Most likely your doctor will explain to you that what your husband has isn't prostate cancer or (potentially) kidney cancer, but is bladder cancer that has metastasized. It is still technically bladder cancer.

Of course it is possible that he has three distinct types of cancer, but the likelihood is that the bladder cancer has spread.

In any case, I wish you the best.

Zach

"Standing on my Head"---my chemo journal
T3a Grade 4 N+M0
RC at USC/Norris June 23, 2006 by Dr. John Stein

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16 years 7 months ago #7553 by New2This
three kinds of cancer was created by New2This
I wasn't sure where to post this question, so please move if necessary.

My husband has bladder cancer and when they removed his prostate, the path report indicated prostate cancer.

There is a spot on his kidney that has not been biopsied yet, but the doctor says there is an 80% chance that it is renal cell carcinoma. This spot on the kidney will be dealt with later.

HOW is it possible to have 3 kinds of cancers?

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