SCARED

Hello and welcome to the community and our group. Sorry to hear about your husband's recurrence and it is understandable that you are anxious for him. As you may know, bladder cancer has one of the highest rates of recurrence, which is why we are checked regularly. There are no hard and fast rules as to why and when these recurrences appear. Many people on here have had multiple recurrences and continue with various treatments. It is not always the case these things get more aggressive. The normal practice is that your husband would have another TURBT to remove the new tumours. A biopsy will be taken and the results determine further treatment. As I say, we have many long termers here who will hopefully be along with their experiences. Try and stay away from google as there are many misleading and out of date things out there. We will try and answer any questions you may have. Best wishes.

Hi Tracer,A big welcome from me too.This is a friendly,supportive group & I hope you will find it helpful.Love & best wishes.Jane.

Hi Tracer

I've had recurrent bladder cancer since 2012, as have many others on here.   Mine's always  been low grade, & confined to the bladder too.  I get taken in to hospital as a day case every 6 months, & usually have anything from 2-too many to count multiple tumours removed.  There's loads of good advice to be had on here.  I'm here mainly for support, & that support's second to none.  Take care, all the best to you & your husband x

Ahh bless you Tracer, you will be scared on learning that but your husbands in the system and will get all the help he needs, as you probably know bladder cancer is most treatable if caught early. I’m 7 years cancer free but will never say I’m cured, I’m just ok till next cystoscope. 

Come back with anything you want to know, someone’s always around and good luck to you both x

It sounds a bit unusual to have gone to yearly check ups so quickly, even with low grade. The general pattern is going from 3 to 6 months to a year, with the clock re-setting if any recurrence found.  BC does have a tendency to progress to higher grade & stage but it's not a given. My brother had multiple G1 recurrences, once going to G2, but eventually after simply removing each time, was clear long enough to be discharged. That must be some 10 - 12 years ago.

Mine was one small superficial but G3 straight off. So that was a higher risk of progressing to muscle invasive. I actually chose bladder removal at that point for best chance of cure. Am now 8 years on & deemed most likely cured.

Once you get the path report for your husband's latest TURBT, you will have a better idea of the next steps. What's important is to be vigilant for check ups. Hope all goes well - BC is certainly very treatable if not too advanced.

Hi Tracer, 

Sorry to hear of your husband’s reoccurrence. I was diagnosed in June 17, was clear at my 3 month check but tumours were found at my check up in June 18. I can understand how you feel as although I was told there was a 70% chance of it recurring, I was confident at that point that I would be clear again so it came as a huge shock when I wasn’t.

i went onto 3 monthly checks after that and had 2 further reoccurrences both the same grade. Last June I had a 6 weekly course of mitomycin ( chemo direct into the bladder). At my check up in September I was clear. Next check up 3rd March.

 I still get very anxious at each check up and I’m under no illusions that it may reoccur again but know it is very treatable and will be treated quickly.

This is a great forum to ask questions and express how you feel and I hope you and your husband get some comfort from it.

Best wishes Luce x