Size of tumor

Hi Sjs,

Welcome too this friendly forum, but sorry to hear about your dad's reoccurrence. 

My tumor was 3cm and was "like a golf ball" plus carpeting around the tumor.

My diagnosis was non muscle invasive.

I understood that the size of the tumor wasn't really a factor f it was muscle or non-muscle invasive as such .

Hope you get the results from the TURBT back soonest.

Wish you and your dad all the best.

Trevor 

Hello Sjs,  My understanding is the same as BFG's i.e. from general comments on here, there does not appear to be significant correlation between tumour size and muscle invasion. In some patients the cancer can be termed 'aggressive' and requires similarly strong treatment e.g. chemotherapy or surgery to remove the bladder and other structures at risk. I would regard it as a promising sign that your dad's tumour has been slow to recur but the TURBT should provide further information and will hopefully scrape the recurrence away, possibly taking a biopsy whilst they're at it to assess whether it's muscle invasive.

My tumour was 7cm and took medium dose radiotherapy and two TURBTs to control it in 2017/18. Like your dad's, it is slowly growing back. Mine has remained non-muscle invasive so far, the data coming from CT scans only as the TURBT material did not enable path lab analysis, much to the confusion of subsequent urologists who've handled my case. I was not offered BCG, chemo or major surgery because a heart condition was discovered during pre-op. It is always a matter of balancing the risks for each patient in order to give the best outcome/quality of life. Best wishes to both of you.  Ray  

My first one was 1cm and NMI, I've had several small recurrences and one large recurrence. Anything under 0.5cm is classed as small and anything over is classed as large according to my consultant. 

Thank you all for the reply’s. It makes me feel better to hear it doesn’t necessarily matter the tumor size and it can still be non muscle invasive, I told my dad this too and he’s glad to hear it. 

5 CM G3. Now toast. RC

The surgery is coming up this week so I’m feeling so anxious. I was looking at the wording in the report from the cystoscope and it says “multifocal bladder cancer involving a patch measuring 3 x 5 cm. Will get a repeat Turbt with probable bcg”. Does the fact that the doctor is already thinking bcg mean he thinks it’s non muscle invasive? Or I am being too hopeful?

I wouldn't read too much I to things until you have your results. Yes they see it all the time and have an idea of how things are likely to go but sometimes they are wrong and things are not as bad as it may seem initially. 

Some of it could be belt and braces based on what they have seen, a second TURBT is fairly common for a lot of people. As is Mitomycin or BCG or both. 

Some have tumours and have no Mitomycin or BCG or tumours and both or one of them. There is no one size fits all same with some are muscle invasive and some are not. 

Good look with the results when you do get them, and at least by then you will know for sure exactly heat you are dealing with which helps alleviate some of the worry and what ifs we all get when we start this journey. 

Thank you for the response, I try to tell myself we know nothing until the procedure. I really struggle with anxiety.

It’s natural to feel anxious but your dad is closer to getting treatment.I’m sure that you will feel less worried once the results are in.Best wishes for your dad’s surgery.Jane x

Given that BCG has kept it away for 15 years, they might well consider repeat treatment is the likely best option. But 'probable' could easily change. All depends on the biopsy report, the stage & grade, and opinion of the MDT meeting. They might consider that a recurrence should be treated more aggressively. Does sound as though it is still very treatable in any case. Best wishes.