Results from 2nd Turbt

Sounds like a good plan, here is to your treatment starting.

Leo

Did CNS mention statistics of cure/risks, benefits etc?  It is a very personal decision, but it is important that you understand the potential implications of whichever choice you make.

I am one who did opt for surgery with only TaG3 which was the right choice for me - everyone has to weigh up the pros & cons, personal circumstances etc & make the decision that is right for them.

PS, Hope all goes well for you!

Teaswill, good point. Do you have a summary of those stats to hand, they would be jolly useful.

cheers

Leo

I saw this, which is useful. actionbladdercanceruk.org/.../ABC-BLADDER-DECISION-AID-A5.pdf

That's a really good document. Statistics of course only give you an indication of the risk you are taking, not your personal outcome. That's what makes it so difficult. I looked on my surgery as prophylactic rather than essential.

The error that is often made that RC is always available after trying BCG. It may not be, or it may entail chemo as well, or there is the risk that the cancer has become incurable. I don't like to be doom laden, but I do feel it is important to give the perspective on behalf of those who were unlucky & are not here to tell the tale. 

I assume you alluding to the fact that cancer could develop whilst under BCG because the treatment is ineffective and / or the time between screening checks is too long thus allowing cancer to develop. Or perhaps you mean that biopsies that indicate that cancer is non muscle invasive actually show up as muscle invasive after RC.

Could be any of those. I was told that not only is BC prone to recur, but also progress. Even with the recommended screening intervals, a recurrence might appear that is already muscle invasive. A very aggressive form might even progress to stage 4 during treatment. (Happened to a friend of mine.)

Your comment about  post-op path report reminded me that my surgeon told me that 25 % patients are upstaged at time of RC, but that doesn't differentiate between stage/grade/ treatment before surgery. Even with TaG3, when I asked if it could already have spread, he only said 'unlikely', no definite assurance. 

I had clear post op path report, but even so, I was told 'most likely cured - only time will tell'. Hence the life long checkups with G3 BC. 

Grim isn’t it.

Sadly, yes. Very treatable if caught early, but a bit of a neglected cancer, although I'm sure there are beneficial spin-offs from research into other cancers.

Some interesting stats here:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/bladder-cancer#heading-Zero