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2nd TURBT for bladder cancer

Leo1
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Hi,  I am having a second TURBT for bladder cancer next week. My 1st TURBT removed what was there hopefully, about a 5CM area including margin. At the time of the 1st TURBT no chemo was used at the end of the operation in my bladder. The grading is G3PT1. The 2nd TURBT is to confirm this diagnosis with biopsies, and to remove any cancer seen. 

My question is whether I should expect chemo to be used in the bladder in this 2nd TURBT. Not sure why it was not used in the 1st.

thanks,

Leo

  • Hi Leo

    Thank you for getting in touch, and welcome to the online community. My name is Anne-Marie, and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I can see you have joined some of our online forums; I hope you are finding them helpful.

    The information provided suggests you have a high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. A TURBT (Trans urethral removal of bladder tumour) is usually the first treatment option for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The NICE guidelines recommend that you should have another TURBT within six weeks of the first TURBT with the possibility of BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) treatment or a cystectomy, which is the removal of the bladder; your doctor will discuss these options with you.

    The second TURBT is also used to ensure the correct staging of the cancer and confirm the removal of the tumour after the first TURBT.

    We have an information booklet on Understanding non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that you may find helpful; treating bladder cancer is from page 42 onwards; however, you may find some of the other information and support useful.

    You may find our information on Questions to ask your healthcare team useful; prior to your next appointment, we always recommend writing questions down and, if possible, taking someone else with you.

     Best Wishes

    Anne-Marie

    I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch by email, webchat or phone. The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial, and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8 am – 8 pm.

    Ref LJ

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