Former Mechanic Living With Bladder Cancer

By hank

1 min read

I originally at the end of 2018 was diagnosed with a low grade bladder cancer.

It was removed, had 3 monthly checks and on the 4th check up it returned. It was removed in op theatre. Came back as high grade Carcinoma in situ then followed up with BCG. I now feel so low, fatigued, despondent... Is this the norm?

Exposure to chemicals in the workplace

I was a non smoker but worked as a Mechanic in the Chemical and dye industry in the UK. Urologist believes cancer is due to something from 30 years ago, I will be 65 next year.

Waiting for results of blood tests. Can anyone help, offer advice please?

What may have caused your bladder cancer?

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shadow1 Member
Hank, was first diagnosed in 2006. Have had a number of tumor resections probably about 15 since. Went thru three, six week BCG treatments. I just recently completed two years of maintenance BCG. In my case the feeling you are experiencing were identical. My Urologist was ready in 2017 to remove the bladder, but he sent me for a second opinion and it was decided to go through a third six week BCG treatment followed by the maintenance regiment. BCG is tuff but hang in there. Just be mindful of blood clots which I have had four from this.
shadow1 Member
I was a smoker but not heavy, quit in 1986. Spent a year in Vietnam exposed to agent orange
hank Member
Got the good news today, no signs of concern in the bladder, guess you have to get worse to get better. Follow up with more BCG, but if that means I die of old age with my bladder bring it on. Excellent skills by Dr. Sheldon Roberts MD.
brandy78 Member
Hank, so sorry to hear that your feeling low. I went through 2 years of BCG and yes,I felt very low. Tired and no energy. Not at first though. My first couple rounds of the 6 week treatments didn't really faze me. But as I went on with them it definitely caught up with me. My very last round of them was the worst. Soon as I started to feel ok, it was time for another one ya know. So yeah, I think it affects everyone a little different. But some things are the same for lots. Tiredness, weak,pain in the lower abdomen, soreness at the site of insertion. Hang in there,so cliche I know. But your in my thoughts friend! ❤
Crystal Hartranft Member
Hey <inline-mention user-id="2068459" username="hank"/> I’m really happy to hear you got good news. I hope you have many happy healthy years ahead of you!!
mra22 Member
Good afternoon! I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling. I have had 15 BCG treatments and in my personal experience, the whole ordeal can absolutely leave me feeling wrung out, sometimes weeks later. Your immune system, and therefore your body, have been placed under substantial stress, so you're bound to feel it. Take care of yourself as best you can and it will improve! Your care provider might have some suggestions that are more specific. As a 64-year-old non-smoking woman, I have also been wondering how on earth I got this cancer (high-grade CIS also) - my only suspicions are 1) Textile dyes during a decade or so that I ran a drapery workroom; or 2) Exposure to cyclophosphamide, a known bladder carcinogen, when it was part of my "chemo cocktail" during treatment for breast cancer in 2003. Who knows? I have kind of decided it doesn't matter because there's nothing I can do about it. Pretty frustrating!
1. mra22 Member
 Hi! A mixed bag for me. My first induction was unsuccessful, but during my TURBT, my urologist's colleague wandered through the OR to see what the holdup was and they started chatting about my case. Uro #2 mentioned a clinical trial he was running, and they worked together to get me in it. And I was assigned the control group. Lol, sometimes you just have to laugh. But induction #2 was successful, so I made it to maintenance, yay. My next TURBT is next week and I'm hoping it's negative again. My goal is to keep my bladder, but not if it costs me my life.