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Bladder cancer at 27

Yellow07
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Hello, 

I'm looking for some advice and really just to see if there are any others out there with similar experiences.

Recently my partner was diagnosed with bladder cancer at 27 years old. This was diagnosed as superficial bladder cancer, it was removed and he had one session of chemotherapy. He has been told he has to have regular check ups (3 monthly initially) and is on a 2 year watch list. 
 

He has handled the news pretty well, takes it for it is and is very practical, but I feel devastated. I have read a lot about bladder cancer since this and have seen a high reoccurrence rate of 60-70% in this type of cancer. This was not mentioned to him in the consultation. Of course, a lot of the research is on the 60+ age group as this seems to be more common then. 

We haven't started a family yet but this is something we were looking forward to doing. I guess I have come on here to find other experiences from people at a similar age of diagnosis? 

Thank you in advance for any responses. 

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    Hi Yellow07. Welcome to the forum.

    I have a similar experience, although I'm in my 60s and had prostate cancer nearly 12 years ago . I had a single episode of blood in the urine in 2019, which led to the discovery of a tiny tumour growing in the bladder.  It looked quite pretty, like a plant growing in a fish tank!  After a TURBT, this was eventually graded as G2pTa. 

    According to my hospital's protocol (sorry, we're not allowed to name hospitals or doctors on the forum), a solitary G1pTa or G2pTa tumour less than 3cm in size is classified as low risk.   From the sound of it, your husband is in this category.

    I was originally told that I'd be discharged after 2 years if no recurrence; however, looking at their protocol (which I found online) they appear to have extended this to 3 years if no recurrence.  I actually had my 2 year cystoscopy last week, with nothing found, so I'm hoping I'll be clear this time next year.  Since I'm still having annual checks for prostate cancer, being checked for bladder cancer is just another item on the list.  

    There is a bladder cancer group on Facebook, if you want to join.  I lurk there, but I've never posted. Most of the people appear to be in the Medium and Hisk categories so I don't find it especially helpful (or reassuring).

    I think you have to trust the medics to know what they're doing. Remember that all recurrence data is historical and treatments are being continually refined. 

  • Offline in reply to telemando

    Hi telemando, thank you for your reply and for taking the time to share your experience.
     

    Thank you for sharing information regarding what categorises low risk. I feel disheartened by my partners consultation as he was not told about the grading, this is something we have had to research ourselves based off of the wording used by the surgeon (superficial). He also was not informed of the sizing, although he was shown a picture and has since surmised that it maybe be 3cm or less, but cannot be sure. There was only one, so that does provide some reassurance to us. At the time of his consultation he was not aware of questions to ask as it was all so new. So I am feeling a little frustrated we have had to find more information about this ourselves. 
     

    Briliiant news regarding the all clear from your latest cystoscopy, I hope you have the same news next year. I will try and see if I can find my partners hospital protocol online. I will look up the Facebook page as well. 
     

    Thank you for your kind words. 

  • Offline in reply to Yellow07

    I feel pretty certain that his cancer would have been low risk, otherwise he would not have been put on the two year protocol.

    It's worth checking all the bits of paper you get from the hospital, because all the information is probably there - somewhere!  This information has been reprinted on every cystoscopy report so far, and those are given to me before I leave the room where I've had the procedure.

    Don't forget that you can also speak to your GP about this sort of thing.  My GP has been a very useful source of information and reassurance during my various cancer trials.

  • Offline

    Hello.

    I'm sorry to hear your partner has been diagnosed with cancer. Any idea what caused it at such a young age? What symptoms did he have?

    Cheers 

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