Husband has a recent diagnosis

Hello Firefly and welcome to the group although sorry hear about your husband. Bladder cancer is far more common as you may imagine and be aware that bladder cancer can be treated successfully. There are many of us here to tell the tale. The procedure your husband is likely having is called a TURBT (trans urethral resection of bladder tumour). It sounds worse than it is. Usually done in day surgery under GA, but prepare for an overnight just in case. Biopsies will be taken and the results determine the next step. There is usually a few weeks wait for results. The body CT scan is to rule anything else out and is routine practice. Lots of help and advice here so feel free to ask anything. Best wishes.

Thank you for your welcome and your reply. This is reassuring and although I am sorry that so many go through this, I appreciate the detail (Google has so many tangents to go off on when reading). Many thanks rily and best wishes.

Hi Firefly . We know it's hard not to Google but we try and steer people away from it as there is a lot of out of date and incorrect information out there. Stick with reputable sites such as MacMillan Bladder Cancer (link). Early days yet, so try not to get too far ahead. This is a one step at a time procedure. Best wishes.

Welcome to the group.I hope you will find it helpful and supportive.We are all here for you and your husband.Best wishes Jane 

Yes, this is so true. Thank you for the link, I have had a look at this and it is very helpful. Thank you.

Thank you very much for the welcome. As I have found with the Alzheimer’s forum, it feels reassuring to chat with people in similar situations. Thank you. 

rily's post has covered the main routine aspects. Many of us on here have been through these procedures, usually while frantically trying to get up to speed with this new, unwelcome intruder after the initial diagnosis. Macmillan produce free booklets which give a drama free, informative description of bladder cancer and its possible treatment paths. I found it to be very useful. On the forum we generally advise people to use google very sparingly because, particularly in the early stages after diagnosis, it can increase one's already heightened alarm to unhelpful levels. My diagnosis was in mid 2017. Tumour was 7cm. Radiotherapy destroyed 95% of it that year and two TURBTs a few months later quelled most of the remaining symptoms to the extent that palliative care as and when required has managed any that return so that a reasonable quality of life can be maintained. Treatment paths will vary from patient to patient and hospitals do not necessarily adopt identical strategies, so there is no single answer to what will happen next. After a TURBT it is quite common to have a Foley urethral catheter for a shortish while, depending on many factors such as post operative bleeding or tenderness. Most patients who show good recovery will have a TWOC (Trial WithOut Catheter) as soon as possible if they've had to have one. It is simply a test to make sure that the bladder can empty adequately with reasonable control after removal of the catheter. Best wishes to you and your husband and welcome to the forum.  

Thank you so much for the welcome and well wishes RayMK . I am sorry to hear about your own experience with this, glad though that you refer to having a reasonable quality of life in the midst of this. 
I have only just thought to look up Macmillan tonight and I am pleased to have found this forum. I will definitely have a look at the reading resources available through them. Your reply is helpful - thank you.

Best wishes to you. 

Hi Firefly,I’m glad you are getting some reassurance here and on the Alzheimer’s forum.Do you have much support ? I was my late mum’s carer and she had vascular dementia with Alzheimer’s.Once your husband has had his second TURBT a team made up of different specialities a multi disciplinary team (MDT) will come up with a treatment plan.These early days involve waiting unfortunately and that is never easy.Let us know if you have any questions as there is usually someone here who can answer.It is a good place to voice any worries.Best wishes Jane x

Thank you for your kind support (I know everyone has things going on themselves).

I am sorry to read about your mum as well. 

I think that I have spend so many months understanding the Alzheimer’s diagnosis but as yet, I do not know what to expect with this (but I suppose as you say, it is a wait to allow them to do the necessary and then we will know more). 
it is good to know that there will likely be support (I am a little worried about the added confusion due to the treatment etc I suppose I will just take this a day at a time).

We have 3 adult daughters and we are very close. I am trying to keep my worries to myself a little - as they have been very supportive but quite upset (more so than his Alzheimer’s diagnosis). 

I appreciate having somewhere to chat and just express my worries. 

Thank you again and take care x