My dh just phoned from hospital - bladder cancer diagnosis

[scared1a]

Hi,

I've just had a short conversation with dh who was newly diagnosed with bladder cancer.
I'm so scared for him.
He's 46. We have a young child. He works a physical job.
He said he'll tell me more when he comes home in a bit, but I'm just so anxious.

Has anyone had experience with this? I've read through the NHS page but still not sure what to expect.

My MIL has recently had it. They scanned everything to make sure it hadn't spread and it was just in her bladder. They scraped everything they could see and scanned again. They decided no radiotherapy as it seemed to be gone. She has scans every six months. 2 years after the first scrape she had to have another one but has now been clear for three years.

It is one of the 'best' cancers to get for it being very treatable if that doesn't sound too awful.

My FIL was diagnosed earlier this year after being fobbed off with antibiotics and told it was always a UTI. Treatment has been successful (I think it’s called bcg?) and he now has to have scans every so often for the next couple of years. Obviously it’s not the most comfortable treatment in the world but he’s not had any horrible side effects and has been living normally throughout. Sending your DH best wishes and hope he has a speedy recovery OP

Likewise. My 88 year old friend had had bladder cancer for 25 years. Six monthly check ups, occasionally they find something and zap it away. Obviously he will pass away eventually, but it's not going to be of bladder cancer. It's very treatable in most cases, and wishing you both well x

My Dad has had bladder cancer for about 20 years. He has a cystoscopy every 6 months and they remove the new growths.

My aunty had bladder cancer about 10 years ago, she's been fine for a long time now and (touch wood) it hasn't come back!
wishing you all the best

Hello, I was diagnosed out of the blue with bladder cancer 25 years ago, 4 weeks before the birth of our daughter.
I am certain that you, your husband and family will be going through all of the possible scenarios, but the most important thing that we found was to trust our consultant and go with the process.
'Cancer' is the word that most if not of us dread, but treatment is so much more accurate and localised now than when I was diagnosed.
The wonder and joy that came from my diagnosis was the time that I spent post treatment with our newborn daughter lying asleep on my chest, it is a memory that I will cherish forever. We still have the occasional 'napski' on the sofa together 25 years later.

First time I've posted on here. My grandpa had bladder cancer for many years, it was treated and it didn't spread. He made it to 96 years old. All the best to you both.

My dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer earlier this year. His treatment has been amazing a procedure to remove the growth first then regular immunotherapy and scans to treat it. The cancer has all gone now but continues have the immunotherapy on a rolling 6 week cycle with regular scans. He is under a brilliant Consultant in London.

I think treatment has come on a long way even in the past 10 years from what I understand

I’m so sorry to hear your news, I didn’t want to read and run because my heart really does go out to you both and all your family. I pray that the doctors have caught it in time and that he has a complete recovery xx

We walked these shoes last summer - husband 46 diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer. Take a deep breath, wait for him to come home and then use Macmillan resources as they’re informative but thorough. Go to appts for your own headspace if that helps you, and remember that it’s a battle together and you’ll be his strength. You have this, you’re strong and we’re all sending you support.
Husband and daughter did Macchu Pichu this summer ( had to be postponed) and he’s minus a kidney, scanned now every 6 months and is currently on his way to a spin class. Our puppy and I are doing 100km walk for Macmillan now.
One thing that really helped me is to try and not catastrophise.. only cross the bridge when you have to. I’m a real planner so this was hard but it’s a life lesson.
Huge hugs xxxx

I am a carer to a 91 year old lady, who had bladder cancer 15 years ago. She had it treated, and had a few more laser treatments in the following years as soon as anything showed itself (regular 6 monthly cystoscopy appointments for the first few years after the initial treatment) still going strong and totally clear now.
Definitely one of the easier ones to treat apparently with a very high recovery rate.

Know 2 people who have had, over 10 yrs ago. No reoccurrence

apparently bladder cancer very treatable, often doesn’t spread.

I'm sorry for your news.

NHS targets are typically 4 weeks to surgery from diagnosis. I wonder if they meant 5 weeks rather than 5 months.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5143517-cancer-support-thread-95-no-googling-allowed

this thread has been very helpful. I’m a recent diagnosee of breast cancer. But the ladies on here are super knowledgeable and supportive.

My mum was diagnosed with bladder cancer at 70. That was 3 years ago and she is clear and doing well. She had her bladder removed and has a bag but we are all happy she is here and she copes well with it, and has taking it in her stride. There are facebook groups for those with bladder cancer or families wishing to support loved ones which I found helpful to ask questions (mine and on behalf of my mum)

Partner diagnosed mid September. We have some understanding how you both feel. Very impressed with treatment & care.

Sorry to hear this and I hope you don't have to wait too long for a plan of action.

Another positive story here - my dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2010, aged 63. He had the growths lasered off, followed by chemo injected straight into the bladder, which he then had to wee out. Not pleasant but he said the worst bit was having to get everything out for a room full of medical students to watch, he wasn't sure where to look. He had yearly check ups for 5 years and was then given the all clear. He's since had prostate cancer and a load of radiotherapy, but had the all clear from that as well, and is still going strong at 77.

Best wishes to you and your DH - it's a scary diagnosis but hopefully very treatable xx

So sorry to hear this news for your husband and you. My husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the age of 30 after a year on and off of blood in his urine. My husbands was G2PTA which is grade 2 Papillary tumour without invasion of the bladder wall so it was contained in the bladder. Same as some others have said, the urologist said this is the best one to get if you do get cancer. He had it removed and some radiotherapy on his bladder. Now has yearly checks and is 10 years cancer free. Has never had it come back. Every year that fear can comeback each time he has the yearly cystoscopy but each year we’ve been fine. Have had to wait 10 years for him to get decent life insurance though! Wishing you all the best. More than happy for you to DM me if you want to chat more. All the best xxx

My uncle had bladder cancer about 20 years ago, had an op and chemo. He's now nearly seventy still wheeler dealering and I saw him for lunch at the weekend.

The first step to treatment and recovery is dx so remember that and you have had a number of positive messages which show recovery is a strong possibility.

i was dx a few years back with a chronic something and I did go to dark place but after 3 mths I felt I had read everything, knew what I had to do etc. Once I had a plan I felt in control and that relieved my anxiety. Some things have changed ( can’t retire abroad as I may need treatment), but reconciled myself to that.

Just watch out for google/ there can be a lot of outdated info out there. Good luck.

I was sent for tests for bladder cancer. Fortunately, there was nothing sinister in my results. The comfort I initially took from my chats with the doctor was it was very treatable with a high success rate. I hope it all goes very well for you both.

My dad had bladder cancer in his 70's, successfully treated and lived over 10 years before passing of old age.

Mostly the surgery is done by electro-cauterisation via a cystoscope, so no "big op" stuff and bladder cancer chemo tends to be done by filling the bladder with the chemicals and leaving them in there for a bit - for my dad it was an excruciating morning because it makes you desperate to pee! but no after effects and as I say full recovery.

It's one of the cancers with the best outcomes and least invasive treatments - fingers crossed that applies to your DH

Hi
I would suggest looking at the charity Fight Bladder Cancer for support.
There is lots of information on their website and access to support for you both. They have a really good online community too x

Hi. My husband had bladder cancer at 46! Diagnosed as a urine infection after peeing blood for 6 months as didn't occur to GP it could be anything else! Had a 'turb' and about 6 BCG treatments, which weren't very nice, but they work, then subsequent check ups for 5 years. He's now 63. Not had a recurrence (although we were told it has a high recurrence rate). He was a smoker - it's considered a 'smokers cancer'. It's very treatable.

Thank you for the responses. I'm reading and rereading...
We haven't heard anything since the first day I posted. No idea what the average wait is for getting the treatment plan, let alone having the actual treatment. Apparently, he's definitely having the operation so I hope he is on the list.

He was diagnosed at Lister hospital in Hertfordshire. We could use other hospitals (his work is near UCLH in London) but no idea if you can actually compare waiting lists and if not how do you decide...

(They mentioned the smoking. He smoked in his twenties and quit in 2009.)