BLADDER CANCER

Words from a Caregiver: My husband, Marvin, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in August 1997. It was a devastating blow to both of us. He went in for urinalysis and BAM!! it was cancer. I thought I was going to lose my husband soon. But we soon found out that bladder cancer has a very high survival rate so we were determined to FIGHT! ====================================== Two days after the "news" Marv went in for a TUR (trans urethral resection) to remove 1/3 of his bladder and any tumors he had. A TUR is a surgery I can only describe in laymans terms. The doctor uses a scope and a laser to enter through the urethra and BURN away any invasive tumors within the bladder wall. Marv was in the hospital for 4 days and I stayed with him constantly. ==============================Although this was not the end of our ordeal.........Things following are kind of a blur as far as dates go; 3 months later he went back in for another scope and the doctor found MORE tumors invasive stage 2 as before and the following week Marv was back in for another TUR surgery :( This one was outpatient ( thank God ). After healing from that surgery he had an 8 week round of BCG chemo. It was put thru a catheter directly into the bladder - no port was needed.====================This happened over and over 4 more times. The doctor tried several different types of chemo therapy drugs after each surgery, including BCG once again. Thio tepa (2 rounds ) and a clinical trial of interfuron, all chemos directly into blader at 8 weeks each. This hadn't been used in treatment of bladder cancer before until this trial!!!=============

HOT LINKS

Caregivers Support
Rustys Ostomy Page
Toms Prostate Cancer Page
Ostomy Information
Pams Caregiver Story about Moms Colon Cancer
Kathys Page
United OSTOMY Assn.
OSTILIFE
ONCOWEB
CANCER CHAT ROOM AND MESSAGE BOARD 4 U

In May 1999 the doctor gave us the news that we did NOT want to hear. His bladder needed to be removed :( This was all so difficult since we had no insurance and not too many options. Marv had togo with the most inexpensive surgical option........an ileal conduit. This is where part of the intestine was cut out to make a "drain" to the right side of the body to "stoma". Both ureters were connected to this drain along with bladder being removed, he has seminal vessels, lymph nodes and also prostate removed. Although the cancer had not gotten to these parts, the doctor said this is "procedure" and we found out all of this to be true later on. This also left my husband Impotent.=========================I felt we were led through this so blindly and we were going on what our doctor said with NO insurance coverage. So we had no choices. But he is alive and well now as far as we know, he is cancer FREE.=================He has not had to go to the doctor for any complications this year. Although he did have to have a hernia repaired 6 months after the BIG surgery. One had developed under his stoma on his lower abdomen. Today Marv is back behind his drums, back at work, and most important.........behind the lawn mower! Now he is able to do all the things that he was able before the surgery. Except making love with his wife. Unfortunately, Viagra has not helped our situation. He hates the pump which was lovingly donated to us by some wonderful online friends and now that we finally do have insurance coverage, I hope to get him back to the doctor for a good check up and possibly some injections for his impotency. My husband now has a Urostomy, at age 42, he has adjusted well, and I am so very proud of him. It has been a long tough road but he did it! I want to thank a special group that has helped me tremendously to get through all of this: Glenna's Garden Support Chat Room at Keyword: Allhealth.......thank you, thank you, thank you !! for all of your love and support, and your friendship. I could not have done it without you. I love you all :-)

Email: annejan64@aol.com

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