Diagnosed with Bladder Cancer

Hi James and welcome to the group there is a wealth of experience and advice found here.

From my experience the removal of the bladder occurs when the cancer is muscle Invasive that's what iam waiting on at the minute and hopefully will complete once I finish my chemotherapy. Things may become a lot clearer once the next turbt is complete. It is confusing and sometimes you don't know what to think. Learning from others I think the bcg is given if you don't need the bladder removed.

Hopefully all will be be made clear to you after your next appointment 

Best wishes 

Mark

JamesS123 . Hi James, and a welcome from me. In many cases there is usually a follow up TURBT to mop up any residue and get a more accurate diagnosis, along with various scans. G3 is the higher grade and has higher rate of recurrence. We don't come across EMDA on here very often but it is a way of enhancing the efficiency of BCG or Mitomycin. You need to have further consultations with your medics before making a decision. Some people choose to go the BCG route to preserve their bladder and sometimes have RC further down the line if it fails. Best wishes.

Hi JamesS123,Welcome to the group.I expect you will get a second TURBT to remove more of the tumours before the next stage.There are a few of us here that have undergone bladder removal if that is what you choose.I hope you will find help and support here.Best wishes Jane 

Hello James, I was diagnosed with Bladder cancer in 2017 and had a tumour removed 31st January 2018. Histology confirmed G3 p T2. My consultant advised me to have bladder removal. Following consultations with my Oncologist I underwent chemotherapy and Chemoradiotherapy in 2018. I have had superficial recurrence in 2019 and January 2023. I also had a recurrence at distal prostatic urethra in October 2021. I have had Mitomycin x 6 and 15 rounds of BCG.  I have been clear now for over 18 months. Next flexible cystoscopy is due August 2025. I have managed to retain my bladder and prostate. Please ask for details of other alternatives to radical cystoscopy. I completed chemotherapy and chemo radiotherapy without any side effects or discomfort. Whatever route you take on this journey I wish you well. Ask only your medical team or consult MacMillan for advice steer clear of Google. Regards Garviv

Hi James,

Welcome to this friendly group but sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

What a tough decision to make. I've been taken down the BCG route. Discussions were had about RC but I wasn't really given a choice but think I would have tried BCG had I had an option. Of course this is just my thoughts. 

Wishing you all the best.

Trevor 

Thanks all for all your advice and guidance. I’ll get back to the Nurse and ask for completion of turbt and the BCG that was recommended.

Hi James. Welcome to our friendly forum. I agree that it would be a good idea to have a 2nd TURBT and discuss both options with your consultant. I would suggest you discuss the results of BCG treatment on the tumours in prostatic urethra. Best wishes 

This is a common dilemma. Often, it would be so much easier if we were told 'x is the best treatment'. I was TaG3 and given the option of BCG or RC. For various reasons, including best chance of cure, I chose RC. The chance of cure with BCG is smaller, along with a risk of progression, even possibly BC becoming incurable.

The effects of surgery are different for females compared with males, so that is an important consideration for you. Ask your surgeon the pros and cons, risks and benefits of both options. Then you can weigh those up in the light of your own personal circumstances. Best wishes.

Fingers crossed you get good treatment and a good team dealing with it all, mine isn't as bad as yours although I've had a small recurrence 6 months after my initial TURBT to remove a tumour this time in my urethra rather than my bladder.

Please seek all help available to you at all times and do the best to keep your spirits up, people often hear that word and automatically assume it's a life sentence and plenty on here can attest to fact it isn't always the case.

Best of luck with your treatment. There is masses of help and support on here and some absolutely lovely people here. 

Thanks all for your advice and most importantly sharing your experiences.

I have opted to have a second Turbt to remove the remaining tumours in my bladder and will be undergoing a combination of BCG and EMDA Mitomycin treatment. Has anyone had this combination before? Can I just ask for BCG only? Or should I just go with their advice? I have seen stuff on google that made me a bit scared.

Thanjs