Hi Guys, well,
i was diagnosed with bladder cancer around late April early May. If you know anybody that has pee that changes colour especially a slight rosè colour, get them into the gp.
I had previously been diagnosed with crohn’s when i was 23, way back in the early 80’s. I have recently been receiving biologic medication in the form of an ifliximab infusion to treat a pretty serve flare up prior to theBC diagnose’s. My Gastric Nurse told me to go get myself checked out after i noticed my pee was a very light rosè colour sometimes. Did this, was put on the 2ww refered by my Gp, had an Ultra Sound a couple days before a cystoscope. I Wan’t aware that the US had identified a golf ball size mass on the rear lefthand side of my bladder. So the cystoscope was pretty much to confirm there was indeed a mass. So when i saw what looked like a piece of coral waving about in the Ocean I did wonder what it was. TURB-T was booked procedure carried out mass sent away to Pathology. About 14/15 days later face to face with one of the urologist to discuss the biopsy outcome. After a very informative discussion i was informed I had a G3 (hg) pT2a muscle invasive Bladder Cancer. Initial i took it pretty well, we then discussed my options, pre operative chemo with a Radical Cystectomy. Well that was the first shock, loosing the bladder. I then asked about how would i pee after the RC. A secondary operation at the same time called a urinary diversion. The current gold standard would be to harvest a portion of Bowel to create a neo-bladder or stoma. Well then i asked the question, which portion of bowel is usually harvested. Distal Ileum, well way back in the 80’s i lost that portion of bowel to resection and right hemi’s due to the crohn’s. Long story short, other options can be considered but that would be discussed at later meetings. I informed my gastric nurse after returning home what had transpired as she had to check if i could continue with my infusion and meds for the Crohn’s. I attended my infusion a day or so after had a length chat with one of the Gastro CNS, she informed me that my Azathioprine along with the infusion would be suspended after this current infusion, due to the proposed chemo. I then asked if i could have a scope of my bowel done, just incase there were other nasties in my bowel.This was duely arranged. After i had a meeting just recently with the surgical consultant i had the scope done in my local daycare unit at my local hospital, the result of that that i have a bowel Stricture.
The question i been getting to, are there any guys or gals on here that have had this happen to them. The second question, were in the UK should i be considering to have the required operations done.
I apologise for the length of this post, i have left out a lot of incidental information to shorten the post, again sorry for the length