Bladder cancer TCC Hi all, I'd like to share my journey with you. At the age of 57yrs. I was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer, Muscle Invasive/TCC. I was a very fit man, going to the gym three times a week doing a heavy workout. I'd never been sick or hospitalised before. In march 2005, I was diagnosed with TCC cancer in the bladder. The cancer had gone through the bladder wall into the muscle. I had two operations, one to remove the tumour and a second which took nearly thirteen hours to reconstruct a Neobladder, where surgeons removed 42cm of my bowel to reconstruct a new internal bladder, connecting it up to my internal plumbing. There are some changes you have to make to your life. For a new internal plumbing job, it's a small price to pay. If there is anyone out there who need answers to this procedure, please contact me, there is so much more to tell. I will answer all your question asap. Cheers, Wazza
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Wazza
Occasional Contributor
Update on my Progress. Bladder cancer TCC Hi All, I've received my medical report, and things aren't working out too well for me. My TCC cancer has returned after four years. There's a mass of 38mm x 37mm x 36mm between my neobladder and my rectum. The tumour has penetrated my neobladder causing bleeding. I've had a catheter in a few times, due to my neobladder blocking with blood clots & mucus. I feel fine, look the picture of health. My specialist are having a meeting next week to see how their going to attack this. As its secondary, it will be palliative care. I have a friend that had the same operation as me about two years prior. He's doing fine. He hasn't had a problem since his operation. No sign of cancer what so ever, and he's in the best of health. Wazza
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Merkel
Contributor
Hi All, I'm Wazza's wife. I'm giving you an update on Wazza's CT scan report he had yesterday. His tumour has increased from 38x37x36mm to 38x40x50mm in three months. There's more lymph node involvement now. Off to his urologist on friday 20th march, to see what path they will take. Then to his oncologist in a couple of weeks. Take care, Merkel
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Hi Merkel & Wazza, Sorry to hear about your news. Just wanted to let you know Im thinking of you & hope your appointment brings with it some good news. I had no idea you 2 were related & gee you have both been through a lot together. Keep on staying strong & taking care of each other. Butterfly
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Wazza
Occasional Contributor
Hi Butterfly, Sound like you've had your share of problems too. I hope thing have improved for you. Thank you for your support. We've been married for 41 years. We work together like siamese twins. My wife is a very organised and strong person. The amount of chemotherapy & radiation she had, simultaneously, wow, and the way she handled it was unbelievable. Her oncologist told her she was his best patient. I've got a hard act to follow. See what goes today at the urologist. Wazza
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Hi Wazza, How did you go today at the urologist? We're thinking of you over here and sending you our best wishes. Louisa
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bev
Frequent Contributor
Hello friends, Thinking of you both at this time.
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Hi Wazza, Yes I, like everybody else have had my share of difficulties but I try and stay positive and get on with life the best I can. Yours and Merkel's story is lovely. You are so lucky to have each other and to understand what the other is going through must be nice. It doesnt seem fair though that you both have to go through this, but sometimes life throws them at you & I guess its how you deal with it that counts. I hope you had some positive news from your appointment yesterday. Important to remember the Doctors are not always right and there are lots of miracle stories out there. Looking forward to your update. All the best Butterfly
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Hi Merkel, Thinking of you, hope Wazza had some positive news yesterday & that you can draw on some of that strength to help you both through the coming days. Take care
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JulieLV
Occasional Contributor
Hi Wazza, Sorry to read your news. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer too. I had a radical cystectomy 1 year ago. There's always the worry of it coming back. Thinking of you. JulieLV
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Wazza
Occasional Contributor
Re: Bladder cancer TCC Hi Guys', Thanks' for all your support and well wishes. I returned from my urologist with bad news. Nothing that wasn't expected. I asked my urologist how much time I had. He said 6 months without treatment or 12 months with treatment. I felt sorry for him to be put in a position of telling someone their terminal, not a good position to be in. He looked very uncomfortable about it all. I'll be more interested in my oncologist opinion on what time I have. I see him on the 30th March, about starting chemotherapy & or radiation. As you all know, cancer has a mind of it's own. I'm still optimistic of course. I've been reading my bible, it's helping me a lot mentally. What's the first thing you do when your planning a holiday. You read the brochures on where your going. That's what I'm doing, reading the brochure on my trip. I've written on the side of my bible. "Dads' Travel Brochure". Merkel (wife) & I are handling it well. We went out dancing on Friday & Saturday night. We do a lot of dancing, swing, jive, rock'n'roll & ballroom. We won Mr & Mrs Rock'n'Roll a few years back. I play guitar & bass, music gives me a lot of pleasure. We have a son, daughter and four grandchildren. I think it's harder on the children. Our son said, when I loose my hair he's going to buy me one of those plastic Elvis Presley wigs to go dancing in. Where would we be without humour. Wazza
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Hi Wazza, Sorry to hear you didnt receive some better news. I am glad to hear you are optimistic. The Doctors dont always get it right & as you said you are otherwise healthy and enjoying life. Tackle those treatments, and that great attitude will help you get through. All the best to you & Merkel; Butterfly
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Merkel
Contributor
Hi Everyone, This is an update on Wazza's visit to his oncologist today. He will be starting chemotherapy in a couple of weeks. The first week, day 1 Cisplatin and Gemcitabine, second week day 8 & third week day 15 Gemcitabine only, followed by a week of no treatment. Then the cycle starts again for 6 months. There are too many lymph nodes involved to have radiation. Take care, Merkel
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