We are still on an really weird ride after finding out last Thursday that my fiancé had invasive bladder cancer. We are still waiting for the biopsy results (which we hope will come back today) but it looks as if he will be recommended chemo followed by a cystectomy. Gulp!
It's amazing how quickly you become able to assimilate facts and cope - last week news of "you have bladder cancer which has spread through the muscle wall but we can't see anything anywhere else on the MRI so far" wouldn't have constituted good news .. but this week ... it does! ;-)
Chemo has such bad press that I was relieved to read through many blogs on this site and see how it actually is for most people. Yes, there are undoubtedly side effects, but they are not nearly as many as you would initially think in most people.
Today I am in positive mode, but I fear a crumble will come if we hear the cancer is very aggressive - we will just have to up the anti even more and get ready for battle.
FormerMember
Hi there. I am new to this site but when I read your blog I thought that I must say something to you. This is because I also had bladder cancer and went through everything you are going through now. I started chemo in january this year (I was booked in for 6 cycles) but had my last one on Feb 24th (after only 2.1/2) due to over reaction to it, ie nausea and tiredness. I had MRI scans etc and nothing could be found. Nonetheless I had my bladder removed on 14th April mainly because cancer cells had already been found in lymph nodes the previous november (these were removed). The point is everything is going fine now. I quickly got used to my urostomy, but best of all no more treatment is required at this time. No chemo, No radiotherapy. Nothing. Zilch. I cant believe it!. Just checkups every 6 months. Keep positive and try to have a good laugh as much as possible I really believe this boosts your immune system and therefore you have a better chance of beating this.
I'm so pleased to hear your news and update on your situation - and the fact that you have adapted so quickly to life with a urostomy is also encouraging. I think we all fear the unknown, and something this site is great at is in spreading the knowledge, and making you realise that people go through this stuff all the time. None of us are alone in it. Many thanks, and you are absolutely right about laughing. ;-)
