Hello fellow forum members from a male with a new diagnosis

Hello 

Sorry to hear your news, and definitely not a good time having just moved, so much going on for you.
The waiting is never the best and having to wait so long, however it’s amazing what they can do and I’m sure in good hands. 
There’s lots of amazing people on here with loads of experience and knowledge, you’re in a good place. I wish you all the best.,

Welcome to the group.I hope you find it helpful and supportive.Best wishes Jane

Hi

Welcome to the group. I don't it's ever a good time to diagnosed. I was diagnosed over 5 years ago and underwent surgery to remove my bladder. Now it's a bit too early to say what route you'll go down, but Bladder Cancer is quite often treatable. I did have face some readjustments post surgery, but by and large, things have been fine.

If you have any questions, please ask, we are a very supportive group.

Welcome to the group. Keep drinking plenty to help flush things through - hope you soon feel better after your first op. At least your move will give you plenty to help take your mind off the diagnosis. Six weeks sounds quite a long time to wait until deciding on treatment, as there may well be more tests to do after that. But there often isn't the haste that we want & feel is needed.

Probably wouldn't be a leg bag, but a bag stuck to your abdomen - plenty here who have that who can tell you more about it. I had the reconstruction, which takes a lot of effort to get 'trained' after surgery. You need to be well informed about the options to make the choice that will suit you. Best wishes.

Thanks all for your positive comments. I appreciate I am just starting on the path to treatment and beginning to get over the procedure and shock. I had suffered from a painful kidney stone a couple of weeks before the first cancer investigation. It was suggested that the blood would be caused by that rather than cancer.

As for the 6 weeks, I am hoping that it is a 6 weeks during which whatever needs to be done is done and that the treatment, whatever they decide is carried out within that 6 weeks.

I have looked at the options for muscle-invasive cancer and see there are several. In anticipation I would be interested in hearing from those people who have had the various treatments available and how they affect day-to-day life. I appreciate it is difficult not yet having the biopsy results. By the way, does your GP get those quite early in the 6 weeks, or are you told at the time of your next Consultant appointment?

I was very active, bike riding, scuba and travelling around the EU and UK with our bikes. We travelled to many (over 20, some many times), countries all around the world, even staying in jungles and Chinese cave houses always 'off the tourist routes'. (My wife is Chinese).

How the various solutions to keep us alive impinge on that sort of life would be helpful if I am given choices.

Hi,

In my case I had three rounds of chemo before surgery, lasting from June to August. My surgery was in early October (2017), I really would be expecting an immediate return to normality.  Although I lead quite an active life and my surgery was over 5 years ago. You really need to give your recovery some time.

However, it all depends on  your oncologist and you what treatment you receive. I was strongly urged to take the route of surgery, which I did and haven't really looked back. The problem when you're first diagnosed is that you want to get your treatment over and done with ASAP, but it not quite like that and takes time. Particularly recovery, which effects people in different ways.

Sorry, really wouldn't expect an immediate return to normality.

Hi,It’s usual to get your biopsy results from the consultant.With bladder removal It is major surgery and recovery quite often takes several months or longer.A lot depends on age and fitness levels and whether you have existing health problems.I was 58 when my bladder was removed and had existing health issues.I felt better 3 months post op and by 8 months was able to return to caring full time for my disabled mother.I did find it hard though and had to have two carers to assist with mum.Prior to cancer I had cared for her completely on my own.I had an Ileal conduit so have a stoma on the right hand side of my abdomen.Personally I found the stoma the easiest part of the whole process of cystectomy.The stoma nurses show you how to look after it and I lead a full life with it.Having had chronic bladder disease for many years before cancer it was a relief to be free of the pain and constant loo trips.I did get very depressed during the slow recovery but that was mainly as I was alone during the pandemic.I found the recovery up and down the first few weeks were hard.You do feel tired and weak post op and this can go on for some time.I had my surgery in 2019 and am currently clear of cancer and mine was a rarer Squamous cell and advanced at T3b G3.Whatever you decide to do there is plenty of advice and support here.Feel free to ask questions there is usually somebody with the experience to answer.Best wishes Jane 

Hi makem . I went the different route of chemo and chemoradiation. Six weeks chemo followed by six weeks of chemoradiation. Several years down the line now and all is well so far. Best wishes.

Hi ianw

What surgery did you have? Do you have a bag? Was your cancer muscle-invasive? Do you know your 'stage' 5 years ago? Have you had ongoing treatment/examinations/problems?

Sorry to be full of questions ;-)

Many thanks.