Bladder cancer

Hello everyone,

 I'm fairly new here, I've read a lot of posts and found the info reassuring, and I would be very happy for anyone's opinion.

My partner was diagnosed with bladder cancer this summer.  It was basically undetectable by any test,  except for cytoscopy. After surgery, turned out it was a stage 0 cancer (TaN0M0, G1),  and the urologist said it was extremely inactive, even for the said type and in remission, so basically "functionally benign".  Took him to the leading oncologist, who said he was fine and it shouldn't affect his lifespan. But it has been lying there, undetected, for some years probably. I read everything I could about it, and I did come across the high recurrence rate....would it, having been stage 0 and in remission , have a lesser recurrence rate? We already had scare in the first ultrasound, so relieved it didn't check out.

 

  • Hi Prue1997. Welcome to the forum.

    I'm not a doctor, just someone who's had cancer treatment and now hangs around here from time to time.

    In general terms, the lower the stage number, the better. It can't get any better than stage 0. That's almost not a cancer at all.  The N0 means that it hasn't spread to lymph nodes, and the M0 means that it hasn't spread to any part of the body. These are all really excellent signs. 

    This is as good a prognosis as it gets. There are no guarantees ever when it comes to cancer, but all the indications are that your partner will have no further problems with this cancer recurring. 

  • Thank you so much! I have been worried sick. He is a bit of a hypochondriac and talks about dying all the time, although all the docs says he is fine. I did persuade our oncologist to help him get the immune system in check, but that's about it. Again, grateful for your reply!