Bladder cancer

Hello Tony, welcome to the forum. You have had a big op which, from what others on here have said, does take a while to recover from physically and also throws in a few mental challenges which significantly change your way of life. From your opening words, it sounds as though you have a workable philosophical approach which helps immensely. Forum members have generally found their own ways to manage this damned disease as best they can and will also step in to try to boost morale if you hit a 'low' patch. Often their shared experiences can give reassurance while bearing in mind that each patient is different and hospitals/specialists may offer some differences in treatment paths despite the basic symptoms appearing to be similar. Chemo can also be quite brutal in the way it affects some patients. Having your taste buds knocked out can't be much fun.

I've not been through the same treatment path as you but I'm still here, living independently at home on palliative care since 2018 which was my worst year. If you click on the armchair symbol next to a forum member's name, many will have added a profile which gives further details on their situation. Best wishes for the future.  

Hi Tony,

I wear a bag too, although, not having a prostate, only needed my bladder out. RayMk is right it's a big op and personally I knew I had to have it as soon as I knew I had the cancer (mother had the same thing but ignored it, though in the mid- nineteen seventies I doubt there would have been much treatment in any case.) So I grabbed any treatment going.

In my case it was chemo first and I had 4 cycles of Gem/Cis. I agree it is hard going and the metallic taste is horrible. In my case the constipation was the worst bit though.

I managed the taste by sucking fruit sweets (non-sugar to save my teeth) and drinking lots of water. Things with a strong flavour helped too as far as food was concerned. And my husband used to bring me Italian pastries from a nearby shop while I was attached to the drip. My hair did go very thin and wispy but recovered later. Broccoli soup helped with the digestion.

On mood, it's all individual but I managed to be cheerful from the first - mainly to protect the family but also because I was getting all the treatment that my poor Mum would have killed for. 

Good luck with your chemo. The bag soon becomes normal and the nightbag is a big positive (sleeping through the night is such a luxury).

I hope the chemo gets the cancer on the run and as you see from RayMk   there is still light ahead.

All the best,

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