I wish I could find the right words to help. I don't know what they should be, but I am thinking of you. I have burst into tears each time I have been seen by a consultant. I have been told it is understandable and better to let it out than keep it in, I think was said. It is just stressful enough just being in a hospital.

LCR 

how are you doing after your surgery? 
hope it all went well xx 

Judy 

sebding you a warm hug 

I hope consultant will behave better next time xxx 

Hi ladies, thank you for your concern and kind words . The surgery went well , but despite it being minor surgery to take lymph nodes out I’m shattered! Must be my age lol ! Makes me wonder how I’m going to cope with the big op next month ! Oh and Judy , we’ll all come to you and give your consultant some pointers on bedside manner ! Lol Let us know how you get on x

LCR 

glad to hear you are ok xxx 

Thank you x

Hello all

LCR – It’s good to hear that the surgery went well and I hope that you are continuing to recover well.

Well I saw the consultant again yesterday and it was good and bad news.  The bad news is, it is cancer, the good news is that it hasn’t spread and that they are going to remove the bladder completely.  This will mean a bag to the exterior of my body for the rest of my life but I can live with that. 

The consultant said that this will also mean that there is no need for Chemo or radiotherapy as the are going to remove all the cancer with the bladder removal.

He has referred me to a hospital in Newcastle for the surgery and he was going to do this when I left yesterday.  But, what has scared me is that he told me that this is just to put me on the hospital’s waiting list and if I hadn’t heard anything in 2 months then I was to contact his department and they will try somewhere else.  2 months?!! That seems a huge amount of time to be banking on the fact that the tumour wont spread by then.  At the moment it is contained in the bladder but no one can tell me how long it will stay there.  I did ask if the tumour had invaded the muscle and his answer was a little strange because he replied that although there was no evidence of it as far as he could tell it had.  He has also told me that he is treating it as muscle invasive.

The consultant also said that if it did spread then they will scrap the bladder removal and the only option left is Chemo.

So, my question is, how long on average does it take to get surgery to remove cancer when the referral comes from one Hospital Consultant to another.  He has marked it as urgent as it is quite advanced he says.

Thanks again for taking the time to read all this

Judith x

Hi Judith , I’m so sorry to hear that you have cancer . They will refer you as urgent to the other hospital so you should hear soon . I would suggest that you call the nurse practitioner and ask for the number of the new consultants nurse practitioner , otherwise ring the hospital switchboard direct and ask to be put through to the Urology specialist nurse , they can then chase up your referral and help you with any questions you have x Sending a big hug . I’m waiting to hear if my cancer has spread . I have my main surgery next Monday x

Hi LCR

Oh I hope that it all goes well with you, it is tough enough dealing with cancer yourself never mind spending time helping others (and you do, really well)

I will definitely take your advice and call the hospital on Monday morning, if it is only just to chat with them

it is the waiting that’s the worst I think.  I always think it’s much better if there is a definite plan in place.  I am keeping everything crossed for you and hugs xx

Judith