Thursday, May 06, 2010

That's a Relief

I waited for an hour to see the specialist - an hour!!!!  Why don't they tell you at the time - you could go and get a beer or a cup of tea or something.   

I finally saw the Registrar and he explained that the tiny tumour WAS cancerous, was a Grade 2 so nowhere near what I had before with the 3 and the Carcinoma in Situ.   Then he said that they wanted to see me in July/August for a rigid Cystoscopy so that they could have another look and more biopsies and check once again on progress.   I was very young and had many years of life to go and they wanted to make sure that they kept me under observation - strange words but theirs...  

Relief?  I'll say,  blimey I was expecting Monday morning to be full on and BCGs kicking off once again.  I suppose it was good tactics to think like that and be pleased with the outcome but we also spoke about ongoing stuff and the potential to have a neo bladder (not from the Matrix) installed and all that but he did say that I was FAR away from that scenario.  As long as I didn't have anything nasty in me in July we could review the case again.

No one likes going into hospital - me more than many and yet I feel comfortable that I am getting this level of inspection.  It can't be cheap but if it keeps me alive and kicking then it is worth it.  Until you get to this stage of having cancer ( and I seriously hope you never do)  it sounds horrendous and yet, if it keeps you alive you will be surprised what you will put yourself through.


2 comments:

Brian Stumpf said...

I have had bladder cancer twice, 5 biopsy surgeries, a perforated bladder and 14 rounds of BCG over a 35 month battle. I can tell you one thing, prior to any BCG, I force my Dr. to give me the “numbing agent” and wait at least 5 minutes prior to any, "insertion". It doesn't make all the pain go away, but it makes it at least a bit more tolerable. Best of luck! Brianstumpf@comcast.net

A Dived Ref said...

Hello Brian, Thanks for your comments. I sympathise that you need the numbing agent but can understand it. I'm quite relieved that I don't need to have any BCG at least for the immediate future either. Good luck in your continued recovery and thank you once again for reading and commenting.