squamous metaplasia of the trigone

Hi Clare,I had squamous metaplasia in the bladder.By 2005 biopsies showed it had changed into keratinising squamous metaplasia.The whole bladder was covered in scales by then.I had 3 monthly urine cytology tests with cystoscopies inbetween.The cytology test involves giving a urine sample to test for cancer cells.I had 14 years of monitoring before the keranisation changed into a squamous cell cancer.It is good that you are going to be monitored.Squamous cell cancer though rarer tends to be aggressive.Jane xx

Hi Jane 

I called my specialist nurse and she just said "it's something we need to monitor" which didn't help and Google is not the best place to look for anything medical....ha ha 

They haven't mentioned how they will monitor, I may have a chat with my GP. 

Thank you for explaining what it is. Is yours under control now? How was it treated? What's the chances of it becoming cancerous do you know? 

So many questions....

Sending love to all

Clare 

Hi Clare,Back in 2005 when I saw the urologist he said that keratinising squamous metaplasia was a pre cancerous  condition.I was at risk of developing a rarer type of bladder cancer that could be aggressive and spread to other parts of the body.It was impossible to predict which patients might go on to develop cancer but I would be placed under surveillance with regular monitoring.I had 14 years of cytology tests and cystoscopies but got cancer in 2019.The tumour was obstructing my bladder so I had to have the bladder removed.I’ve been cancer free since the surgery in Sept 2019.From what I was told it’s the keratinisation the scales that are the risk factor for developing Squamous cell cancer.My bladder was so diseased from Interstitial cystitis that it probably would have been removed even if I hadn’t got cancer.I expect your monitoring will be regular cystoscopies.I had 2 a year sometimes 3.Love Jane xx

Hi Jane.

I'm still on 3 monthly checks at the moment. Maybe they will dicuss it better when I go in May. 

Thanks for the info. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to cancer  

Sending love to all

Clare

Perhaps they will add in cytology tests too then.x

Hopefully. I have an appointment at the continence clinic on 1st April, I will ask them about it too. They monitor me every 2 months because of the damage caused by the mitomycin 

Clare