Bladder cancer advocacy network

Bladder cancer advocacy network
June 5, 2011
Hard choices
By ludovic
June 5, 2011
In Newly diagnosed
Shared with the public

I'm 86 years old and in
general good health. I had a
TURP on April 23, tumor
removed from a thin-walled
diverticulum on the right side
of bladder. Biopsy at the time
revealed I also have
adinocarcinoma. I am
preparing to undergo
segemental cystocopy to
remove the diverticulum and
adjacent bladder wall where
tumors are located.
I chose this procedure over a
radical cystoscopy because
quality of life is important. If
successful, I will still be able to
pee normally, (albeit more
frequently).
The question posed by my
surgeon: "If I find it not
possible to complete the
partial, do you prefer I
continue on to do a radical or
do I close you up?"
Hypotetically, knowing what
you now know and you were
86, what would you answer?
BTW, were I to elect for a
radical, which urinary
diversion would you
recommend?


...By ludovic
July 3, 2011

Thank you to all who offered
opinions and advice based on
your own experiences. They
were, of course, of
tremendous value in electing
the course for me to follow.
Firstly, I have to express my
thanks to and admiration of
the skills in both diagnosis
and surgery of Dr. HUATHIN
KHAW , the specialist who has
taken care of my uroligical
needs for about 17 years at
Kaiser Permanente in San
Diego.
Secondly, I have to attest to
his humility and empathy by
reporting that he readily
organized an appointment
with another urological
specialist for a second opinion
before deciding on the final
course of action.
Thirdly, based on his finding
that the adino tumors
appeared to be located only
in and close to the
diverticulum and his
assessment of the area
available to him to excise
them and still leave adequate
tissue for stitching and
reclosing the bladder, we
agreed to go with a
diverticulectomy and partial
cystectomy.
The surgery, held on June 18,
lasted for 5 hours and
resulted in his removing the
diverticulum plus a
happily-small 10% of my
bladder. Subsequent path
results showed tumors gone
and margins clear of cancer,
as were the nearby lymph
nodes.
For the time being, I am
cancer-free and suffering a
diminishing amount of
discomfort following removal
of a drain tube and catheter,
and the slow healing (I'll be 87
later this month) of the
incisions.

I've noted, with increasing
thankfulness for my own good
fortune, the anguishing
choices some sufferers have
had to make in respect of the
cost of the treatment they
require. As a member of the
Kaiser Permamente Senior
Advantage program, the only
contribution I have been asked
to make is a $200 per night
hospital charge. My surgery
and the subsequent
state-of-the-art nursing help,
plus all needed supplies and
follow-up visits for device
removal, etc. have been at no
charge. For those who may
not qualify for such a
program, I can only say that I
am totally amazed that any
right-thinking US citizen,
except those who own shares
in healthcare insurance
companies, would vote
against a political party that
advocates free healthcare for
all paid for from general
taxation.