Living with Cancer

[Jennifer66]

Twelve months since my bladder cancer diagnosis I have had 12 BCG treatments, 3 chemo treatments and 6 Cystoscopy,Ureteroscopy,turbts, biopsies and stent replacements/removals with a day or hours of feeling unwell after treatments, lower back pain that comes and goes and Panadol is always sufficient. I had pneumonia in early December and was so sick I wanted to die and thought I was going to.  How can I have cancer when I am well. I was scheduled for a Ureteroscopy, biopsy and stent exchange this week, I have cancelled and want no more, twelve months of living  with treatment and whatever so no more, now simply living with it, I maybe an absolute emotional wreck but this is going to be me 

[Cazzita25]

I really admire your attitude, enough is enough with the brutal treatments that leave you feeling wrecked. How are you going now? x

[Jennifer66]

Thanks Cazziita 

I have been lucky my treatments don’t have any great effect on me, and if I need any pain relief Panadol is all I need. As I have cancer in my right ureter as well as my bladder, I do know that I have to go back for a ureteroscopy and cystoscopy as the stent in my ureter has to be changed or removed, and this is happening this week, my reason for not wanting this, is I will know what is going on, I am well and that is the hardest part with my bladder and ureter cancer 

[Cazzita25]

Big hugs xx

[Richard56]

Hi Jennifer, 

I have read some of your posts re bladder cancer and I really hope that you're doing ok.

Its been 10 weeks since my bladder cancer was diagnosed,  I have had 2 surgeries, the first to remove 2 tumors and also biopsies taken,  the second was for re resection and deep biopsies, also prostate reline. My cancer is a hg T1 and results of the biopsies show no cancer has gone into the bladder muscle, next Friday I will have my first meeting with my oncologist, my surgeon say my treatment will be BCG, once a week for 6 weeks, then once a month for a year, then 3 monthly thereafter. 

The surgeon will look see every 3 months.

Just wondering how you are going now and how did you respond to the BCG treatment too, I'm just wondering what to expect. 

Kind regards, 

Richard 

[Jennifer66]

Hi Richard56

Im going along okay, and you certainly have been given a good plan, I hope it all goes along to the plan. 
I went through 12 weeks of BCG with no major problems at all, I only ever had side effects on the day and they ranged from tiredness and aches Panadol was all I needed and when I would wake the next morning I was back to normal. Unfortunately the BCG did not work as the cancer is still there , am T1G3 and I don’t have many options left, my professor would like me to go through 6 weeks of intravesical heated Mitamycin chemo which I’m still not sure of, as no guarantee that will help with my ureter cancer and only 25% success rate with bladder cancer so big gamble, I am well but do need to be considering as my professor calls it the ‘gold standard’  bladder removal 

[Felicity_CCNSW]

It's Felicity here from the Supportive Care Team at Cancer Council. It's lovely to see the supportive comments from everyone in the Online Community. Please feel that you can reach out to Cancer Council NSW on 13 11 20 for Information and Support. 

Take Care

Felicity