Recurrence seen on cystoscopy

Hi Catfan. Sorry to hear your partner has had a recurrence, but unfortunately, we know bc has a habit of coming back. This is why we are checked regularly. The good thing, because of regular follow ups things can be caught early and dealt with. It is understandable why your partner's optimism has taken a set back but not the end of the world. If caught early enough, it could just be a zap with a laser beam or possibly a further TURBT. A bit of a disappointment, but just take things one step at a time. Best wishes. 

Thanks Riley, much appreciated.

I managed to get a bit more information out of him and apparently it is low grade (can they see this?) and it will be diathermy so that sounds much less serious than I had thought. I guess he will stay on 3 month checks as he had been about to move to 6 monthly. Maybe they will try more BCG but it did cause granulamatous prostatitis and he ended up having to have a prostate biopsy so it may not be an option. 

Hi Catfan,Sorry to hear there has been a recurrence.I suppose the checks might stay 3 monthly but the diathermy should sort it.Best wishes to you both.Love Jane x

Thanks so much Jane. I think with my partner it is  the psychological side which is difficult as he suffers depression and finds it hard to get by - anything else added to the mix feels too much. He has said he would quite happily not wake up from the procedure which is sad to hear. Love and best wishes xx

That is sad,does he have any help for the depression ? I have some understanding as my partner suffers from depression and chronic medical conditions.We seem to lurch from one setback to the next but have stuck together.It’s not easy.Love Jane xx

Hi Jane 

Sorry to hear about your partner's health and depression. 

Mine had some counselling about 3 years ago which helped a little in terms of him.undestanding himself but really nothing since then. He has been prescribed anti depressants but hasn't wanted to start them, I can't really force him.to do more. It is hard at times. He does come round when he has processed things but is pronr to making rash statements like refusing more treatment etc

I guess some help within the cancer treatment at hospitals would help a lot of people but funding would not be available xx

John saw a brilliant psychologist and he was a tremendous help.It was a pity that there was no funding for extra sessions.It Is terrible that vital help is withdrawn when there is no more money.x

Hi Catfan, my Oh's bladder was completely full of tumours 5/6 years ago. G3 pTa just exactly like your OH's. He had 6 BCG, an immediate new papillary tumour so another TURBT. Offered "equal choice" of more BCG, mitomycin or cystectomy. Absolutley horrified at possibility of cystectomy which we had innocently not even been aware could be needed. So took the Mitomycin. Has been clear apart from the 'infamous' red patches until a couple of weeks ago. Had his pre-op today and a cancellation for the Turbt Monday. Fortunately it doesn't bother him in the slightest, other things make him depressed but not the bc. So while every case is individual I hope this gives some cheer. By the way it is a strong possibility as a non smoker who hasn't had work with industrial chemicals either, that his is down to the toxic mix of drugs unavoidably needed for many years to control difficult epilepsy. Although off phenobarbital around 5 years ago he is still on 2 as well as statins and a lifetime antibiotic, so this could still be triggering cancer cells. And at 78 I believe natural cell repair may not be as effective as in younger people??

Really hoping all goes well and that perhaps some insightful meber of nursing/medical team may realise how he feels and listen helpfully.

Denby

Thanks Denby for your lovely reply.

It does give me hope and I will share it with him. I think he had thought that he might be one of the few lucky ones that have treatment and move on. We need to adjust to the possibility of it being a long term condition that can hopefully be managed. He seems a bit better today. The nurse said it will just be a whiff of anaesthetic and in / out very quickly so not like the original surgery which needed a couple of nights on hospital and 6 weeks off work.

I have wondered if they will suggest more treatment as he didn't complete BCG. Maybe Mitomycin will be suggested. The nurse said it is a tiny, low grade growth so I don't know if they will just review in 3 months and if he has another recurrence  suggest something else. He was referred for cystectomy at the start but didn't want it and they agreed if they could remove it all via TURBT he could keep the bladder and try BCG.

Smoking seems to be the main cause they know of but my husband has never smoked. He was thd child of a heavy smoker though and interestingly had a maternal Uncle who developed it at the same age. He is an engineer and would have had exposure to diesel fumes , oil etc so I wonder of that might be the cause. Plus a history of kidney stones which I suppose may be relevant. It's interesting that medication is likely to be the cause for your husband. 

I hope he gets his TURBT quickly and makes a quick recovery - wishing you both all the best.

Hi Catfan,The diathermy shouldn’t take long.I had ulcers and red patches removed using it and it used to take about half an hour and they were extensive.