Embracing Life

About 10-11 years ago I was having some urination issues. My local Urologist did many tests, and finally found a stone in my bladder. I didn't have many issues, often the tests were more uncomfortable than my symptoms.

Finding out I had bladder cancer

He scheduled a procedure at our nearby hospital to remove the stone. The stone turned out to be my blessing because when in my bladder he also found a tumor high in the wall of the bladder. His concern was that this location often allows the tumor to grow through the wall and spread to other critical organs. He was so concerned that it was "Stage III" which is one that can grown through. And rather than him performing the tumor removal he wanted me to be treated by the Head of Bladder Cancer at a nearby medical university, about 50 miles away.

A sigh of relief

After referrals and calls, I had an appointment with an expert who travels the world teaching new doctors about this cancer and how to treat it. My Urologist had forwarded x-rays and test results. Our first appointment was face-to-face and this very knowledgeable Gentleman said: "First I want you to know that I see hundreds of cases a week of bladder cancer as compared to perhaps a dozen a year that your Urologist sees. You DO NOT have Stage III, but we need to do a procedure to remove the one you have and then BCG treatments. Moving forward, you’ll receive routine cystoscopys, probably for the rest of your life”. Hearing those words was like a 100-pound weight being removed from my shoulders.

The new normal

For about 4-5 years we started with 3 month periods of cystoscopys, then moved to six month. All were negative! Then, about three years ago he said "I see a red area that I need to look closer at". In one of those "close looks", he had a chemotherapy fluid instilled in my bladder and I held it for an hour.
Last year he had me back on three month visits and this past June he went back in and removed a small tumor that he had been watching. Starting this week I begin the first of six BCG treatments. I have read on the internet, and this site, that this cancer can return and I am an example. I have gotten used to the personal embarrassment of the procedure because without these exams, honestly I probably wouldn't be here.

Treatment is a blessing

My only concern now is that this leader in his field has retired from doing further treatments, but will still do all he can to train others in this field. When the hospital staff asked if there was a Doctor I wanted, my reply was: "As long as the one the University selects was trained by and assisted in procedures by my Doctor, I am fine with the choice."
I have been in gatherings where someone will ask: "have any of you been through the discomfort, pain and suffering of cancer, please raise your hands"? I usually don't raise mine because my history didn't include those; yes for awhile the awkward process of a cystoscopy, but that vanished. The 100-mile round trip wasn’t ideal, but my wife and I learned when to schedule my appointment so we could have a great breakfast or lunch in the city. I hope all reading this can find some comfort that the treatment is much more a blessing than ignoring it.