bladder cancer-how long to go? - Cancer: Bladder Message Board

ladywil · 09-12-2003, 11:56 AM

My 83 yr old mother-in-law was diagnosed with bladder cancer. She had radiation treatment at that time, After 6 months they checked her out, but did not give a clear answer. Last april they went in with a little camera and saw it all. In the meantime they must have knicked something, because she started bleeding. She needed 3 bags of blood. Last week she went again to dr. I think she thought that they were going to cauterize it, but instead they gave her the sentence: there is nothing to be done. The cancer is too large and if they could do something, it would go right through the bladder wall. So i guess this is the end for her. Of course she is feeling terrible.
Does anybody have any idea about a timeframe when the end will be there. We saw her in July and she looked well, but that was really before the camera trouble. We live in Canada and she lives in Holland and we cannot afford to go over every month or so.
Thank you.

Mybrother · 09-13-2003, 10:41 AM

I'm so sorry. We have never been able to get a straight answer for my brother either. They just don't know. Everyone will be differnt and they don't know how long it will go. I think that time lines given have been proven wrong so often that they just won't say anymore. Good luck with all your going through, my heart goes out to you and your mother.

jaydees · 09-15-2003, 12:56 PM

I have a friend who had bladder cancer. They got it all two years ago but he still has to go back and get scoped every few months. Apparently it can come back more readily than other cancers.

Her age is probably a deciding factor in not doing anything else. The stress of surgery or chemo may do her in as easily as the cancer. Surgery would also mean a urostomy where the bladder is bypassed and urine drains into a pouch.