It's back....

Actually Connie..it was about Laurens original posting that it had been 2 years since her initial TURB and her uro performed not a snip and zap..but a TURB in the office for biopsy. Plus the mention by Lauren that " He cut most of it out to biopsy ".........most of it out? I really have to question that. Pat

These posts are about biopsy and electrofulguration in the office, not TURBs in the office. Two different things --just wanted to clarify. TURBs (resection) in the hospital are done after the initial diagnosis of a tumor(s) in the bladder. In the case of someone with a history of small, low grade tumors, then there is the choice of office vs. hospital if the urologist offers the office procedure option. Either way, you get a pathology report. If, against the odds, the path report comes back high grade, then a TUR in the hospital is done to the necessary muscle tissue.

I am with Pat, never heard of a turb done in an office setting, or anything close to it. Infection and other things come to mind. Did he make you stay a few hours til you felt better, like they do sometimes at the ER..?? Second opinion, comes to mind as well, and how about a hospital stay for a turb thats done under normal protocol,, don't take any chances,,take care, Ginger

My urologist, who had plenty of experience, mutterred "not more than a grade 1 or 2" when he first saw my cancer --- and I didn't even know he was taking about cancer :o. It was grade 3 by 2 independent pathologists. My urologist didn't believe it. Thank goodness it was Ta, but I really can't imagine how a urologist could tell how deep a tumor is by visual inspection. Sorry, I'll still go for the path report every time.

My point is that the FIRST Turb should be done in the hospital under anesthesia to determine what you are really dealing with. Its to important not to get the correct pathology the first time around and maybe even a second opinion on that. If the urologist has seen lots and lots of bladder cancer let him go ahead and snip and zap with further cysto's if he's sure they are non-invasive papillary tumors. I just don't think the first "OUCH" should be in a doctors office.
Pat

My first was outpatient hospital, too... and I have a copy of the pathology report, which I will compare against the one I hope to have in my hands tomorrow or Thursday. He cut into the muscle the first time, since the tumor was very large. I understand the importance of getting enough tissue to be able to do a thorough pathological study. I also understand a feeling that a doctor gets for cancer when he sees it often, and I appreciate not being sent to a hospital for my first tiny, papilloma-like recurrence. If I have the slightest question in the language of the pathology report, I'll determine what to do from there.

Bill, it's hard not be afraid when you know they are about to snip and zap, but you are right, it's definitely not as bad as we build it up to be... it's more the IDEA of it, I think! Like if someone grabbed your hand and tried to burn you with a soldering iron, you'd yank your hand away and RUN.... but when that soldering iron is inside your body, it's a different story!! ;D