Scar Wars Episode III - The Sting in the Tale (or Tail)

A Long time ago in a Galaxy far far away.

Having escaped twice from the Operating Table
Once each from the X-Rays & the dreaded Cystoscopy
Our Hero returns to meet Darth Urologist one more time.
Can he win out or has he really gone over to the Dark Side?
No he hasn’t, he’s just turned the light on!

What can I say GOOD NEWS! Albeit with a sting in the tail (or as near to the tail as makes no difference)

Good news is:

Cancer is downgraded to CIS – Carcinoma in Situ meaning that it is now in the top layer of the Bladder and the surgery appears to have worked well and the biopsies show that it is no longer in the second layer. This is really good news and they went back over the biopsies and made absolutely certain – hence the extra two weeks waiting around. Time for a Yippee I think - YIPPEE

Sting in the Tail is:

Now for the Immunotherapy which is a 6 week course of BCG (yes the stuff they give you for a TB jab - well almost) – but it isn’t injected into you but delivered directly (yep I thought that too – makes ‘yer eyes water doesn’t it). I asked about the side effects (as opposed to the special effects – how do those light sabres work?) – frankly, wished I hadn’t asked! It is pretty much a case of I’m gong to feel pretty grotty while they do this. It isn’t chemotherapy as this actually gets the body’s own defences to fight the CIS – so no hair loss (alright I know but don’t feel you have to write in and tell me about the lack of hair anyway!).

It looks like I might have to wait a few weeks before they start on me – it will go on for 6 weeks and then 6 weeks after that back into hospital for another test under general anaesthetic (remember what happened last time!!). They then check to see if it has done its job. There are two outcomes – if it has worked then great albeit that they then do preventative maintenance using the BCG for 3 months then 6 months etc. It can go on for years but they do fewer treatments and regular checks. If it is not successful then things take an altogether more interesting and radical route. We don’t want to go there for the moment – that really isn’t pleasant.

How am I?

I’m alright – it is a bit better than I expected or hoped for so that is good. Judge for yourself whether I should be looking forward to the treatment :-). Whilst it is a nuisance, this is at least a move in the right direction and within 3 or 4 months from now it will be a clear point to work from. This also marks a sort of planned set of treatment which is a bit more settling than the stuff that has happened to date.


Wishing you all the best – thanks for the support (I’ll wash it and send it back to you).