Multiple tumours in bladder

te1124 1 month ago

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Good morning,

My husband has very recently been diagnosed with bladder cancer. At the moment, the cancer hasn't been typed/staged. He had a CT urogram yesterday and has his first TURBT nest week.

Apparently, the pictures from the initial cystoscopy he had that led to the diagnosis showed at least three tumours and I was wondering if the number of tumours present are an indication that the cancer may be advanced? Is it possible to have multiple tumours and for the cancer to still be "caught early" or low risk?

I appreciate that, really, we'll need to wait for results from the scans/TURBT to get a proper idea of what we're dealing with, but wanted to know if the number of tumours in the same location means a more serious prognosis is likely.

Many thanks in advance.

Rae – Macmillan 29 days ago

Dear te1124

Thank you for contacting us here at Macmillan Cancer Support. My name is Rae and I am a Cancer Information Nurse Specialist.

We are sorry to hear that your husband has recently been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

In the UK, doctors use the TNM (tumour, nodes, and metastasis) system, and number system to stage bladder cancer. They can also describe the cancer as either non muscle invasive or muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Your husband’s team will also look at the grade of the cancer (biopsy results) and they can be split into either grade 1, 2 or 3. A grade 1 means that it is a low grade cancer, and grade 3 a high grade cancer, grade 2 can be either. This gives the team an idea of how the cancer may react and what treatment should be offered.

We don’t wish to overwhelm you with information, but Action Bladder Cancer have further information on grading and staging of bladder cancer which may be useful.

You are right that you will have to wait for the results to be certain of the stage and grade of the cancer. We wouldn’t want to speculate on whether three tumours could indicate a low or high risk cancer.

The results will be discussed by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) for bladder cancer. We have information on treatment for bladder cancer.

Knowing that your husband has a cancer diagnosis, but not actually knowing all the details and what you are both facing, can be a very anxiety provoking time. It is important that you both feel well supported. This can either be through talking to friends and family, healthcare professionals and of course our nurses on the Support Line. There are also local Macmillan staff In Your Area, who are very approachable.

We have a bladder cancer forum, and friends and family forum on our online community. Talking to other people who may be going through similar things may help.

Please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and speak to us if you want to discuss any of the above or have further support needs.

Best wishes

Rae, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

Ref/RH/SH

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Multiple tumours in bladder