Dad

Hi and welcome to the community, although it must be difficult for you finding out your Dad has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is one of the most common, even though it is not one of the more well known. Firstly, let me say that bladder cancer can be treated successfully and many of us are her to tell he tale. T2 means it has started to invade the bladder wall. G3 Is the more aggressive type, but the most common. I assume your Dad has had a procedure to determine the stage and grade. There will now be an MDT meeting (multi disciplinary team) where the medics discuss he next steps. Your Dad will have follow up consultation to discuss a treatment plan. Once a plan is in place, things become slightly easier as you know something positive is happening. Stay away from Dr. Google as there is a lot of out of date and misinformation out there. Stick with us. The more info you can give us the better. Good to know you are here supporting him.  Best wishes.

Thank you so much for replying it is very helpful. I was googling lots last night so I will take your advice and message to this group. Currently my Dad is having his right kidney monitored as it showed a blockage on the CT scan. Most likely from the cancer. However he had prostate cancer a few year ago that was treated by brachytherapy and after was resolved PSA level was fine, they tell me this cancer is not connected but I’m not so sure, at the moment I haven’t got faith in a specific doctor and the consultant is like a ghost I never get to see him. I do need answers but I realise the MDT is Tues and we will know more then about the kidney issue and if he will need a nephrostomy to drain that first. The other issue is he has to have the cancer treated in a different hospital we don’t have the appointment till Friday at the other hospital which seems to me to be ages away. I also don’t know his consultant at the southend hospital (currently he is in Broomfield). I just feel like I have so many unanswered questions right now and don’t have a key worker assigned either although I did see a CNS on Friday because I asked to see one. He should have one assigned in both hospitals shouldn’t he? 

Cheers CB

Hi . It is not unusual to have treatments at different hospital. Some do not have the right facilities. Whether your Dad should have two different CNS nurses. it is not something I have heard of. I understand you have many questions, but until you get the findings of the MDT and proposed treatment plan, we could only speculate. Unfortunately, once the initial surgery is out of the way, the wheels turn slowly and the waiting is something we are all familiar with. Best wishes.

Hi thank you for your message. I have found out from CNS that the MDT was last week and Dad case was discussed. He will need chemo as there are signs that a node has entered outside of the bladder wall as can see sign of swell. They want to take precautions but I feel as if I need a second opinion privately. I’ve asked that question but do you think it’s worthwhile?. I want to be certain chemo is necessary. Of course if it is he will have it. He has muscle invasive bladder cancer I thought it was just invasive. Key worker is now finding out about if his kidney is fit for chemo. I guess I will know more tomorrow when I see consultant. Today consultant was a stand in registrar which I don’t have much faith in. 

Has anyone had the chemo how does it make you feel. 

Thanks CB 

Hi CB . I had six weeks of chemo (Gemcitabine and Cisplatin) . I was fortunate not to have any real problems or sickness with it, although I know some people have bad reactions. Most people report some form of nausea. They give anti sickness pills to help prevent this. Mine was muscle invasive and I went on to have radiotherapy which has so far done the trick for me. You will know more when you see the consultant tomorrow. Best wishes.

Hiya the CNS in both hospitals are on the case. Dad was discussed in MDT last week and will be again tomorrow. See if his kidney is fit for chemo. Thankfully the ball is rolling. Will know more tomorrow again on if he is fit as they been monitoring his bloods. Hopefully be ok and he can come home until the oncologist appoint is ready. I’m starting to have faith. Dad can’t have radiotherapy because he had it for the prostate and you can’t have in same area twice. CB 

We met the consultant Friday and he wants my Dad to have MRI to asses exactly where the cancer is as the write up isn’t clear enough for him. I’m hearing about the risks of dying on the table and within 90 days of the op. I am trying to only think of today and next week but it is very difficult to shut off reality of the worst case. Dad is claustrophobic and has always avoided MRI. Hopefully they will do it with his head out. Felt quite low yesterday. He’s 79 I feel like odds are against. X

Hi cebrown73, Your worries are totally understandable. However hopefully as the MRI staff are used to people suffering claustrophobia but needing the scan, they will do lots to help him stay calm. If it's really bad maybe check beforehand if he should have a one-off calming medication of some sort?-GP should prescribe if needed. Also often you can take favourite music to be played to help. I didn't enjoy the tunnel when I had to have one but managed to stay focussed on " this is such a good scan it's going to help the docs get me right" until suddenly it was done. I would try to be pleased the consultant is being so thorough and not treating him less carefully because of his age, which isn't that advanced these days really.

All the best,

Denby