USAF GULF WAR VET

By USAFGULFWARVET

1 min read

I was a healthy 57-year-old man very active Golf, Workout five days a week non-smoker. Then one November day I had blood coming out of my urine with chunks of blood so I learned that day - that I have bladder cancer.

Let's be real treatment isn't easy

So I did a couple TURBT‘s.
Very painful not a lot of fun.

BCG fears and uncertainty

Thankfully it was nonmuscle invasive however, I’m facing the year-long BCG treatments. I really don’t feel like going through all that pain and discomfort if it’s not a silver bullet that’s gonna knock the cancer out.

Is it worth it?

If it’s gonna keep coming back anyway why go through all that pain. That's my story.
Anyone survive without BCG??

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oldguy Member
 I was fortunate (like you) to get an early diagnosis of my high grade T1. The first words from my urologist as the cystoscope entered my bladder were "Oh, wow! I'm sure glad we decided to look. Another six months and you might be in trouble." TURBT is much harder than BCG and skipping BCG would make recurrence (leading to another TURBT) and progression (leading to cystectomy) much more likely. Approaching two years since diagnosis without recurrence, I am happy as a clam, whatever that means. Do the BCG. It is effective and only a minor inconvenience.
1. Laura MacKenzie Member
 <inline-mention username="oldguy" user-id="2076380"/> thanks for sharing your experience and support. Laura, Moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>BladderCancer.net</a>
Laura MacKenzie Member
 Hi. I understand and emphasis on the pain associated with treatment. I am not medically trained and my treatment was surgery to remove my bladder as my cancer was late stage and invasive. I would say discuss your concerns with your medical team. While everyone has to choose the option best for them which may be chiding to do nothing, I would always recommend following the advice of your medical team. Laura, Moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>BladderCancer.net</a>
Dan Franke Member
USAFGULFWARVET First thanks for your service, one Vet to another. Guess I'd follow your doc's advice. Your young so hitting you hard to try to prevent problems down the road I guess. I was found early-so just trubt for me and it does hurt for sure. But no chemo-five years out now. Good luck, DanF, moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>BladderCancer.net</a>.
oldguy Member
<inline-mention username="USAF-GULFWAR-VET" user-id="4497838"/> When you say that you are "facing the year-long BCG treatments", that seems to be the advice you are getting from your urologist. Whether he recommends BCG or not depends on the specific kind of cancer you have (low grade, high grade, etc). Some kinds do not need BCG. For other kinds skipping BCG would mean keeping your bladder would be a coin flip. If you think TURBT is tough, you don't want bladder removal. Follow your doctor's advice. If you don't trust your doctor's advice, get a second opinion. Cancer is kind of scary, even when you catch it early. We hope our doctors will take the time to explain things in detail, but even the vocabulary is new to us in the beginning. The doctors usually decide on a treatment as quickly and easily as 1+2=3. And usually it is just that easy for them because they do it every day. Every day for years and years. All we can really do is trust our doctor or get another opinion. At the very beginning of my journey, though totally ignorant, I consulted a second urologist, an expert, and he assured me that my first urologist was a very good one, that I should trust him. Be brave and smart. And good luck. No guarantees in this business.
1. Laura MacKenzie Member
 <inline-mention username="oldguy" user-id="2076380"/> thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experience. Laura, Moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>BladderCancer.net</a>
Linda Urbanski Member
First of all - Thank you for your service. Secondly - many people have BCG with a variety of side effects. I suggest that you speak with your doctor about your concerns as you might find that it does not sound as bad as you think. I know that many of these treatments are scary but you may find that you have no side effects. Best of luck to you. Keep us posted please. Linda ( moderator, <a href='https://bladdercancer.net' target='_blank'>Bladdercancer.net</a> team member)