Joining the BC Club: Episode 2

I agree!!! Find a new Doctor!!! You deserve to be kept informed!!
I find myself struggling to communicate with my Dr also. When you dont feel informed enough by the Doctors to make choices about your own treatment path it is maddening!!!
Julie
PS I love a good cold swim in Lake Michigan!!!

Isn't this a little late for a scarey Haloween tale?

I'm with them...... fine a new Dr.

You deserve it!

I'd definitely get another urologist if I were you, as soon as possible. Or, at the very least, a second opinion. The usual procedure is to do cystoscopy in the office to see what's there (if anything), and then schedule another appointment for tumor removal. It's unconscionable if the doctor didn't tell you right away after the surgery what was found; however, as Mike said in his post, due to anesthesia you might not remember exactly what is said to you immediately after you're out of the procedure, and you should have someone with you who can remember. Of course the pathology report to confirm the grade and stage comes later, and you would definitely need to meet with the doctor for followup conversation then.

I had my first tumor removal in outpatient surgery, and didn't have to go home with a catheter or bag. I might have had a catheter in briefly after the procedure, while in recovery, but with that "amnesia" anesthetic, I can't remember! The second time around, when I had a recurrence with 2 very tiny tumors, my urologist offered me the option of having the TURBT done in his office, without being put to sleep. They did give me an oral sedative to take, and local anesthesia gel was put in the bladder. My husband was allowed to stay with me, and we got to watch the whole thing on the monitor.

Looking forward to your further chapters. You're a great writer!

Ann

I'm with doc, your doctor sucks!!!!

You say you've been lurking a long while so you have to have seen the part (posted in about 8 million places) about getting to a bladder cancer specialist once you've been diagnosed by your local urologist.

After the first diagnosis of bladder cancer from a TURBT, a follow-up TURBT should be performed 6-12 weeks after the first.
The doctor should be talking to you about what the diagnosis means, the stage and grade of the cancer and the treatment plan.

Noninvasive (T0) low grade bladder cancer is often treated with the "watchful waiting" approach. That is, it grows so slow that they just keep you coming in every 3 months (and after a while changing that to 6 months) for another cystoscope. Often, that is just done in the office and if they find something they then schedule for the surgery (TURBT) to remove the tumor.

The urologist is supposed to be talking to you though. You should really check to see if maybe he actually was and you don't remember. Many types of relaxants and anesthesia cause amnesia during a period before and after surgery. Some people are more affected by that than others. Could be he talked to you for 10 minutes but you don't remember. You should ask about that. You should also bring a notepad to your appointments and ask questions and write down answers.

However, I highly recommend getting to a top bladder cancer doctor to have your treatment plan confirmed/changed as the case may be.

Mike

Sounds to me like your doctor sucks, to be blunt. If I were you I would be finding a good uro with some bed side manners. You don't have to be knocked out to be checked. If he finds something then do the surgery. I don't think I have heard of any thing like this.