TURBT No 7.... And the beat goes on.......

Good Afternoon All, 
I been absent from here for a while, although been keeping upto date via the email digests I receive of the chats.

After my last little update in August, where Trevor had done apparently completed a magical disappearing act, and could not be found during the TURBT, I had a further Flexible Cystoscopy in November.   No prizes for guessing, but the little b*stard was back, and appeared to me to be larger then the one we thought we thought we saw in the July flexi-, estimated at about 1cm across by the person completing the procedure.   There was a brief glimpse of something as the camera went in, but then Trevor played a game of 'hide-and-seek', concealing himself behind the tube, and they had to do a 'J Manoeuvre' (they called it) to get a really good look at him, as he was sat near my prostate.   Does not help that my prostate is reported as 'enlarged', although PSA tests have not revealed anything of concern, at this point anyway, so that is not something for me to worry about. 

On Friday I had my 7th TURBT, and unlike last time, Trevor was found, and removed.  The difference is that this time I am in more discomfort than I was for all but the first of the previous TURBTs.  I suspect that due to where Trevor was this time, there was more pulling around to successfully get to him, and for the eviction process to be completed, and I hazard a guess that this has bruised the muscles around the prostate, urethra, etc, and as they days are going on, the bruising is coming out, as it does. 

Other side effect that I noticed this time, which I do not recall from TURBTs 1-6, was some constipation for the first two days after the procedure, and since then it has been painful to go, which I am putting down to bruising in that general area caused by the procedure, although it has markedly reduced from the tear producing agony I experienced on Sunday.

I took a short walk out today, first since Friday, which amounted to less than half a mile round trip to the local Tesco, and am now exhausted.  I always find it interesting how much a TURBT takes it out of you.  Part of me thinks 'well, there has been no cutting of muscle, no stitches, or anything, so what is the problem',  yet the other (more rational / sensible) part says 'yes, but you have had a general anaesthetic,you have been pulled around, you have had something cut out of you - albeit that is not visible, so your body is acting just the same as if you had been cut open.   I suppose the real downside is the eejits (polite term adopted!) who think that because you have no visible wounds/scars, that there is nothing wrong with you!  

Before I went off work for the latest TURBT I had quite a long chat with my (newish) supervisor  about my Bladder Cancer, treatments, and work. She admitted that she was quite shocked to hear that I have had this cancer for more than 5 years, and when I explained how many treatments I had had, and what they were.  Apparently it is my very low sick record, although that will be bumped up this year thanks to two TURBTs, and that I am usually seen as one of the more cheerful (I think that relates to the black humour I utilise at work), and positive, members of our team, gave her no idea I had something that serious, or was indeed unwell at all.  It was quite refreshing to talk to someone who seemed to want to understand what was involved, and how they (and my employers) could help me, rather than some of the <insert rude words here> I have come across from other people.  

Anyway, I am rambling.....  not an uncommon occurrence. 

I have just asked myself why I post these occasional chats.  Why do I?  A good question.  I am not looking for sympathy - sh*t happens.  I am not seeking any blinding words of wisdom from fellow sufferers - although if something does crop up, so be it.  I think I do it as it is a way of sorting my thoughts, and emotions, about the situation I have been landed, to people who have an understanding of what it is like to have the fears, dreads, hopes, pain, and all the other words that you can think of, that hangs around with cancer.  If what I ramble on about helps one other person, then again that will be a bonus, but I am not so vain as to believe that will be the case.  The other reason is probably because if I talk to our Cat about it, she tends to look bored. 

So, if you have read this, thank you for your time. And finally remember:  Ne te pereat spurius te conterat!. [is the translation is wrong, blame Google :) ]. 

May I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and in the words of the LKate, Great Dave Allen, 'May your God go with you'. :)