Father diagnosed with Bladder cancer - Were down but not out!

Mr Positive
Mr Positive Member Posts: 1
in Bladder Cancer #1
Hi all, First let me say that I know nothing about cancer or medicine in general so I apologize in advance if I sound clueless.I'll start my tale with the info I have now.My 65 year old father has just been diagnosed with bladder cancer.I think it's stage 3 or worse because they said it has spread to the muscle tissue around the bladder and maybe to the prostate.I'll know more tomorrow.What I need is advice on what questions to ask,what tests should be run and how to read and understand the test results.We are in CT but will travel anywhere for a ray of hope so if anyone has suggestions of cancer centers/alternative medicine/ or Dr's that are really on the ball with this stuff it would be greatly appreciated.P.S thanks so very much for the help - I need all I can get at this point.

Comments

  • wilsel
    wilsel Member Posts: 38
    #2
    Line up a teaching hospital......
    Hello Mr. Positive:

    As an 18 month survivor of stage 3a bladder cancer with a very aggressive tumor, I can advise you to find a reputable teaching university hospital and get connected with a urologist there. I truly believe that the very least you will find at a teaching university is a 'competent doctor'. With that said, I believe they also house many outstanding young doctors who are experienced with 'cutting edge' procedure that your dad is in need of.

    I was diagnosed in April of 2010 and had my urostomy in June of 2010. The surgery was followed up with 12 weeks of 'chemo' and I am presently like new. I can do just about anything I did prior to my operation and chemo and I will be turning 67 in another week.

    I go to the gym, exercise and walk all the time. I have had all of my treatments at UPMC in Southwestern PA, (Pittsburgh area) but I'm very confident you have great teaching universities in your area as well.

    It sounds like since it is in the muscle of the bladder that chances are they will want to remove the bladder. A few options follow that, but the urologist will explain them to you. Any further questions, I will be happy to assist you in whatever way I can.

    My email address is ....wilsel@verizon.net. I don't always check this site that is why I amy providing my email address. Not many bladder cancer postings here on a regular basis, which is why I usually use a site other than this one.

    Take care and I wish you well.

    C U,
    Bill
    Urostomy 00006-30-2010, stage 3a bladder cancer, very agressive tumor
  • dml
    dml Member Posts: 1
    #3
    bladder cancer
    was your dad in vietnam? my husband just passed away from kidney cancer that probably started in the bladder or ureters.there is a strong link to agent orange exposure.
  • wilsel
    wilsel Member Posts: 38
    #4
    dml said:

    bladder cancer
    was your dad in vietnam? my husband just passed away from kidney cancer that probably started in the bladder or ureters.there is a strong link to agent orange exposure.

    With sympathy in your loss....
    Hi dml:

    If you look in the upper right hand corner of the post you will see that it was posted in December of 2011. That's the problem with this site, people come on and post then most of them don't come back. I guess they find another site that has more traffic. I did that myself but I still come back from time to time to see if there are any new people.

    I am sorry to read that your husband died from cancer. And, I didn't know that there was a link between agent orange and cancer. I served from 1962 thru 1966 but wasn't exposed to agent orange.

    My bladder cancer ended up with my bladder being removed on 6-30-2010. I have had a urostomy since then and all has been well. That was 20 months ago, but who's counting. (ha) I wish you well and if you would like to know the web address for a more active bladder cancer site, let me know.

    Take care and C U,
    Bill

    Bladder Cancer staged 3a, urostomy 06-30-2010, very aggressive tumor
  • manisa99
    manisa99 Member Posts: 2
    #5
    hello... Im currently 21 and
    hello... Im currently 21 and my mother 51... she has been dealing with gallbladder cancer for the past three years and after a long battle now shes on the edge to die in any second... Ive written a blog with all my feelings.... what has gone on and how Ive felt for the past 3 years..... In there you can see my emotions of roller coaster and being in denial to finally coming to an acceptance... even though is still the hardest experience of my life..I seriously spelt my heart out in the LONG blog and maybe someone can relate and learn from my mistakes of at times not being by mothers side and also the shock of having to her in the state that she is in now.. maybe and hopefully this blog can help someone relate and be able to deal with such a traumatic and painful experience... here is the page to my blog of my blog… http://www.randomfactspage.com/ …. It first started as a random website that I wanted to post weird stuff on my free tome but I felt the need to share my experience so it has become more of an emotional page.... hope it helps someone.. heres the link again. http://www.randomfactspage.com/ .... share your thoughts... TRUST ME im in NEED of some support as well..... also the blog december 2012 TRULY speaks my heart.
  • fjmaltese
    fjmaltese Member Posts: 2 Member
    #6
    bladder

    this is just as new to me my friends, I,m 64 had my second roto ruter last week and yesterday the whole deck of cards fell in. The doctors prognosis was pretty grim as to what they propose to remove In two weeks I,m going for a pet scan to see how far the spread might be. I,m dealing with the veterans hospital and think the care is top shelf, although i,m considering second oppinions. Keep the faith folks- the good lord has big plans for us... new to this site , you,ll be hearing from me again

  • fjmaltese
    fjmaltese Member Posts: 2 Member
    #7
    wilsel said:

    With sympathy in your loss....
    Hi dml:

    If you look in the upper right hand corner of the post you will see that it was posted in December of 2011. That's the problem with this site, people come on and post then most of them don't come back. I guess they find another site that has more traffic. I did that myself but I still come back from time to time to see if there are any new people.

    I am sorry to read that your husband died from cancer. And, I didn't know that there was a link between agent orange and cancer. I served from 1962 thru 1966 but wasn't exposed to agent orange.

    My bladder cancer ended up with my bladder being removed on 6-30-2010. I have had a urostomy since then and all has been well. That was 20 months ago, but who's counting. (ha) I wish you well and if you would like to know the web address for a more active bladder cancer site, let me know.

    Take care and C U,
    Bill

    Bladder Cancer staged 3a, urostomy 06-30-2010, very aggressive tumor

    newbie

    all these new holes they are proposing scare the **** out of me,I,m a vietnam vet 66-70 and don,t consider myself a punk but I guess you could say its been along time since I,ve felt like this. Just got the news yesterday and it hasn,t totally sunk in yet. theysa they want to take out the bladder, prostate and surrounding lymph nodes and choice of indiana or florida bag in return. I,m thinking I,m on borrowed time anyway. in two weeks they want to do a pet scan whatever that is and then a couple of weeks later(showtime) so maybe I,ll go down fla. and get drunk and layed one last time. Sorry to bum you out, maybe this isn,t such a good idea.and the other site was?  thanks for careing

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