johnnyc's Cancer Blog

April 9, 2008

Update

Views: 122

What a great Spring day it is here in New York City!

Yesterday I spent all day down at City Hall testifying to try and stop the budget cuts being proposed by our Department of Education here in the city as it relates to arts education – talk about an action packed day!

I wanted to let everyone know, as ask advice on what it happening with me. On Monday afternoon I went back into the operating room for what I was lead to believe would be to obtain a biopsy of the bladder wall in order to confirm whether the tumor had spread into the wall or not. When I was in recovery I was told that the doctor did not take a biopsy as the are looked red from where he removed the tumor two weeks back and burned the area – so he decided to not take a biopsy and burn the area more. Needless to say this sent me through the roof as I now have a pathology report that does not contain the stage – only says that it is High Grade urothelial carcinoma. If I am understanding this all correctly by his burning the area the first time when he did not get enough tissue from the muscle of the wall, and by now burning it again, he has ruined any change of getting an accurate report for me.

I have contacted Sloan Kettering this morning to try and get an appointment with a doctor that is reported to be very good there in order to get a second opinion before I listen to my current doctor who changed his mind and now says he does not think systemic chemo is the way to go and will do a course of BCG instead.

I would love to hear from others who may have advice.

John

Posted on April 9, 2008 at 10:00:20 AM by johnnyc ( Update, 2 comments)

John, I don’t have any advice because I have never experienced this but I can understand why you were upset. I would have been upset, also. I hope your second opinion doctor at Sloan Kettering can give you some good answers. My thoughs and prayers are with you. Joyce

Posted on April 9, 2008 at 12:58:44 PM by joyce

John; Just scanning the Blog and found your story. Wasn’t sure if you had written anything because the left side of the page (your bio) was empty. Anway went further to find your post. How discouraging and mentally draining the wait is. I hope this new Dr. and Sloan (wonderful hospital), will guide you and give you some proper answers. Don’t know how some Dr.’s can get away with such nonsense as to not do the right thing at the time. His excuse is inexcusable. Good luck and keep us posted

Posted on April 28, 2008 at 1:56:20 PM by weezie