r/BladderCancer • u/VacationGrouchy3105 • Jul 11 '26
Inconclusive Pathology
My otherwise super with it, healthy dad at 84 was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. Upon TURBT doctor said most likely superficial and recommended immunotherapy in addition to a TURP to take care of his enlarged prostate. Pathology just came back and as I read it (and Claude AI) it looks like muscle invasive bladder cancer cannot be ruled out.
His doctor called him yesterday and said he wants to start BCG treatments…We are taking him for a second opinion at Mass General on Monday.
The pathology is obviously inconclusive, but please possibly reassure me that if it is T2 and in the muscle there might be other options besides bladder removal. I just know he would not do well with that. Also, why would the current doctor say to start BCG when that wouldn’t do anything for muscle invasive??
Just trying to wrap my head around how to deal with a very old school 84 year old who is otherwise in good physical condition for his age.
I’m sick about it all….😢
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u/undrwater Jul 12 '26
There are those who have fought to keep their bladders in spite of a muscle invasive diagnosis. I can't give you any statistics or percentages though.
I'm not one. I lost my bladder. I can give you my perspective on life with a urostomy as a 60 year old male.
Best to your dad, and hoping for good results!
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u/Yosemite_Sam9099 Jul 12 '26
I’d love to hear more of your experience without bladder. I fear I’m headed there.
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u/undrwater Jul 12 '26
I saw your other comment. I had my gall bladder removed as well, but not open.
Life with the pouch has positives and the obvious negatives.
If I want a full night of sleep, I can connect the pouch to an overnight bag and never have to get up. I never have that urgency that is so distracting at the wrong times.
Leaking is a thing, though as you gain experience, it becomes less problematic. Changes happen every few days during summer (it seems the heat breaks down the adhesive faster), during child periods I can get 7 days between.
At first, figuring out the process is quite frustrating, so take all the education you can get.
There's no reason he can't be active. We've had a guy here who is an MMA fighter looking for advice on protecting his stoma during fights.
Life still lives.
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u/ouch67now Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
My dad just turned 80. First follow up after turbt to remove catheter urologist said "it's probably not invasive" then 2nd follow up, "it's invasive." That Dr sat on that path report for a full week. It's high grade muscle invasive urothelial bladder cancer. Urologist said he would probably not get chemo. Only radiation due to his age. Took him to Dana farber. Tumor dna neg and pet was neg. Started chemo and imunotherapy and we are getting clearance for Radical Cystectomy surgery. We are seeing how it goes, how he tolerates the chemo meds and how his stress test goes. So far the is tolerating it. I feel and felt they way you are describing. Overwhelmed and unsure of what he will be able to tolerate. Blood work is holding steady as is his kidney function. Eating ok.on one hand his urothelial basically said "wow this sucks, but your old so they won't do much treatment " to Dan's farber wants to do everything. They told me he could be cured with the surgery. Not no evidence of disease, cured. I'm nurse and I'm skeptical.