Question about Turbt procedures

After initial diagnosis in 2010 and 3 recurrences, I switched to a major teaching hospital and a urologist who specializes in bladder cancer. I've done 6 BCG/Interferon treatments and am scheduled for biopsies on Friday under general anesthesia. Urologist says I'll have a catheter for 4-5 days and home or near a bathroom for another week. It sounds like a lot, and I hate the idea of a cath. But it's better than risking infection, which is what happened after the first turbt.

I had trepidations about switching urologists but so glad I did.

Any ideas out there on making the catheter more comfortable?

Karen,

Until that pathology report comes back, that comment from the doctor about it probably being low grade means nothing. One cannot tell the grade from looking at a tumor. A pathologist analyzes the cells under a microscope to work that one out.

Frankly, it makes me wonder about his urologist. If your husband has not gone to a top bladder cancer doc after two recurrences, it is time. Even if his urologist is the nicest, friendliest, best looking urologist in the whole wide world, your husband should go to a top bladder cancer specialist now.

Two recurrences with the grade he has means that BCG is the MINIMUM treatment to consider. Depending on how he reacted during BCG though, it could be that it was not triggering the immune response that it is intended. Maybe it did work though but it is just coming back again and again. The time between recurrences is also cause for concern.

If this recurrence is high grade, he really needs to discuss removing the bladder. There are options about a "replacement" bladder to be considered. I had mine out almost four years ago now and I've been cancer free ever since.

High grade recurrences require careful consideration in treatment and he really NEEDS to get to a top bladder cancer doctor now.

Mike

A bit of background. My husband was diagnosed around June of 2011 with bladder cancer.

Pathology reads: histologic type: papillary transistional cell carcinoma. Histologic grade: II out of III. Depth of invasion: None. TNM: Ta. That was after the 1st TUR procedure.

In November of 2011, more was found on checkup, after removal, the pathalogy reads: histologic type: papillary urothelial carcinoma. Histologic grade: High grade. Depth of invasion: None. TNM: Ta NX MX
After this he went through 6 weeks of BCG. We thought he was doing good. The followup scope was good.

This week he had the 3 month checkup after the scope following the BCG., and the urologist found another spot of cancer..he said he thinks it is probably low grade, but should be removed, so Tim has an appt. for end of August for another Turpt.

Finally my questions..should we push for more BCG or other treatment after this tumor is removed? Also how many more times will he have to go through the procedures to have the cancer removed (obviously as many X's as it comes back). But what is the # of times for most people? He gets so depressed after the reccurrance.

Thanks in advance.
Karen