Thickening of bladder wall

The second look is standard with G3, to ensure correct stage & grade. The results will be discussed by a MultiDisciplinary Team (MDT) to advise on the most appropriate treatment. If confirmed stage T1, then the options are usually a course of BCG immunotherapy into the bladder, or bladder removal. Some hosp will recommend BCG without giving the option of surgery. If it upstaged to muscle invasive, then surgery would probably be the recommended option. 

That all sounds quite scary, but at T1, even early muscle invasive, BC is very treatable. Many of us here have had surgery, others (where it is an option) have chosen BCG first. Your partner needs to be sure to ask all the pros & cons, risks & benefits if offered choices & take time to consider personal circumstances, priorities etc.

We're all happy to give info about our decision making & outcomes. Best wishes.

Thank you for your reply, if bladder removal was offered can you lead a near as normal life as possible 

The short answer is yes. The recovery period is long, but gradual. i went back to work & picked up all my usual activities (& more) post op. Obviously there is getting used to a new urinary system, but for me, in some respects that functions better than before. There are implications for men in term of erectile dysfunction, although a good surgeon with nerve sparing may be able to alleviate that. There are also other ways to address this issue.

That's amazing to have life back. His case has been discussed which is why he is having second turbt to check muscle thickening I guess they will decide treatment after results..does muscle thickening always mean cancer has invaded muscle or can it just be due to age 

Hi Kage. I was told I had thickening of the bladder wall several years ago. Not related to the cancer. In my case it is just one of the joys of getting old. Never given me any noticeable problems. Best wishes.

Thank you Riley 

Hi Kage,You can get bladder wall thickening from chronic inflammation too.Mine was thick due to many years of chronic bladder disease well before I developed cancer.The inflammation caused scar tissue and a thick bladder wall.I had muscle invasive bladder cancer and had the bladder removed 3 yrs ago.I have a stoma and lead a normal life.Best wishes Jane 

Thank you Jane 

Hi Kage, just to add as no one else has mentioned it so far, besides BCG there is an into-bladder chemo treatment called Mitomycin. [There are others but less common] Mitomycin can be an alternative to BCG, plus sometimes it is used as a single 'washout' after a TURBT while you are under the anaesthetic. The idea is to 'mop up' any few remaining cancer cells.

My husband has got on very well with the Mitomycin thereby so far [5+ years] avoiding the surgery and loss of sexual function. Plus by his own admission he wouldn't find it easy to manage a stoma -but other people don't have any problem with bags or neobladders at all.

Best wishes, 

Denby

Thank you Denby 

Karen