Husband just diagnosed

Hello Layeney and welcome to the group although sorry to hear your husband may have bladder cancer. His reaction is normal. Just the word cancer sends people in to a spin. The early days of uncertainty and not knowing can be the worst. Bladder cancer however can be treated successfully. and the earlier it is dealt with the better. The CT scan is standard and gives them a better picture of what they are dealing with. Highly unlikely there will be any spread if superficial. The operation is fairly simple in he great scheme of things. Usually done in day surgery but maybe an overnight if he goes in the afternoon. The op is called a TURBT ( pronounced TURB ). Trans urethral reresection of bladder tumour. Sounds a lot worse than it is. The offending cells are scraped away. Biopsies are taken which determine the next step. Not having this is not an option. This thing will not go away on its own, which is what you need to convince him of. It takes a while to come to terms with a cancer diagnosis but once he does he will then have something positive to focus on. Once gain, try and let him know that bladder cancer is treatable. Lots of us here have been through this so please feel free to ask anything or just come to talk. We are here to support you as well. Best wishes.

Hi Layeney, sorry to hear about your husband, my husband was diagnosed last year with bladder cancer, one of the hardest times was before the diagnosis, when he had the first flexible cystoscopy the Dr just said there was a problem and he was referred to the main hospital for investigation. It was here that he had the TURBT, it wasn’t a brilliant experience but also not too bad, it took a few weeks before he was informed it was cancer, he had 6 weeks of BCG immunotherapy which was not as bad as we thought it would be, then another 3 weeks maintenance BCG, he had TURBT’s and scans but all went ok.

At the moment he just has to have 3 monthly flexible cystoscopy’s to check that cancer has not returned, it’s not an easy journey but in the scheme of things if he hadn’t gone through it I wonder where he would be now, he did ask the nurse when she first told him it was cancer and the treatment options if he had the choice to refuse, she yes it was his decision but it was not a very sensible one, I think she hit the nail on the head and it really is the only sensible decision.

Take care and thinking of you. Jean.

Thank you gor the reply...I read it to him. He us slowly coming round to the idea of carrying on with treatnent. So thank you.

I read your reply to him. He is coming round to the idea.x

Thank you for the reply...all these vimnents are helping him a lot.x

Sorry comments I meant.

Hi Layeney,Welcome to this friendly group.I hope your husband will go ahead with the TURBT.It will be a shock for both of you and it’s usual to experience all kinds of emotions on diagnosis.Everyone here is on hand to lend support to you both and answer any questions.Best wishes Jane x

Layeney, I read my post out to my husband and he pointed out quite correctly, that I had said about treatment, e.g BCG immunotherapy that you probably know nothing about, one of the things that I realised when we started on his investigations was that we knew absolutely nothing, it was quite a learning curve, I received support and help from this group when I was worried or wanted explanations, so what I would say is don’t be afraid to ask if you need any guidance or information, there are some lovely and helpful people on here who are only too happy to help. Jean.

Please reassure him that many of us understand his reaction perfectly. The diagnosis leads to shock and the recommended interventions and treatment are initially overwhelming not least because they are intrusive and directed at what most of us consider to be our most private areas. I had to calm down (especially the first couple of days) and calmly review my circumstances and upcoming procedures and treatment. I didn’t have much time to do this as I went from diagnosis from cystoscopy to TURBT in four days. I had to resign myself to trust in the medical team to help me which is a very vulnerable feeling. The diagnosis and treatment procedures will not cause any bladder tumour to spread. Been there my friends, and I am still coping since this started for me in July of this year. Follow through as the potential for success is good. I am a 60 year old male.