Transitional Cell Tumor/Treatments

This is a follow-up to the post: "Husband Has Bladder Tumor". It has been a devastating few days. The tumor is a Transitional Cell tumor and such that they cannot remove it at this time. He will start 7 weeks of radiation and chemo at the same time in an effort to shrink it so they can remove it. The doctor said it's not so much the size as it is the fact it's "fixed".

My husband is 71 but is at the fitness level of one much younger. He's run marathons, swims, rides his bike long distances, doesn't smoke, drink coffee, or drink, eats very healthy food. Needless to say, we are shocked.

Please, has anyone else been treated for a Transitional Cell bladder tumor with radiation/chemotherapy? The doctors have told him that his otherwise good health and fitness are in his favor. Please, can anyone tell me what we will be experiencing these next few weeks and how we can remain positive? I am taking a leave of absence to keep him motivated and to give him support. I could use some motivating advice myself.

My husband, age 60, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in Sept. and we too were devastated. I could not function normally so I took early retirement from a good paying job which I loved (and I have no regrets!). My husband's tumor could not be totally removed through surgery so it was mostly removed and then went thru 3 cycles of chemo (cisplatin and etoposide). The hope was for six cycles but his platelet count was too low and could not recover. His cancer was transitional cell plus mainly composed of small cell cancer (which travels aggressively). After chemo they did a scan and saw no evidence of any cancer. He also had a scope and there was no evidence of any tumor remaining in the bladder (you could only see grey dead tissue which will eventually be naturally expelled). Next week he will begin six weeks of radiation to treat any cancer cells in the muscle wall of the bladder. It has been a difficult journey but we thank God it has gone as well as it has. Think positive and take one day at a time. God bless you.

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. I have urachal adenocarcima which is very rare. What makes my case even more rare is the fact that I am 29 years old. I too am/was very active. I have two small children that I chase after all day and I used to run 5 miles a day. Believe me, he does have his health going for him. I also have to wait until the tumor and lymph nodes shrink before I have surgery. Chemo has been doing the job in those areas, but it has also spread to the bone and lungs. I am undergoing radiation right now on my spine and will begin chemo again when that is completed. The only advice I can give is to stay positive, no matter what! And pray! I wish the best for you and your husband. Live strong!

Thank you so much for your response. Your case sounds much like my husband's. He started his treatment Monday. He has radiation therapy for 6-7 weeks and chemotherapy for the same amount of time, weekly, on Mondays. He receives 2 drugs - Taxol and carboplatin. Am I correct that your husband did not have chemo and radiation at the same time? Did his tumor cause considerable pain to his lower back? The medical oncologist said that the tumor is probably pressing on a nerve. He is depressed because he cannot do even minimal exercise right now; the doctor said that he was trying to do too much. How is he doing with the radiation treatments now? Were they planning on shrinking the tumor and then removing it? How is your husband feeling now that they see no evidence of tumor?

These 7 weeks and more are the most challenging of our lives together. I appreciate your insight and support. Thank you and God Bless you both.

Sheila, Hopefully you and your husband are doing okay. This is a very difficult time and it's tough to be strong. Hopefully you are getting support from family and friends. My husband, Lou, did NOT have chemo and radiation at the same time. His cancer is 80% small cell cancer which is an aggrassive cancer which tends to travel so they treated that first with chemotherapy. The goal was to have six cycles but after only three his bloodcount (platelets) were too low so they stopped chemo. We have moved on now to radiation which will treat the 20% transitional cell bladder cancer. Lou's chemo was geared to the small cell cancer which is typically found in lung cancer which is why they used cisplatin and etoposide, Lou never experienced any pain but the chemo did cause fatigue. Big time fatigue. However, he did manage to go to work five days a week but would be VERY tired when he got home. Fatigue where his entire body ached and it was difficult just to get up out of the chair. I personally think he did too much by insisting on working Monday thru Friday. Weekends he rested. I hope your husband handles the chemo well. Other than the fatigue Lou did pretty well. The anti nausia pills they have available now worked well for him. God bless. Marilyn

Sheila, Hopefully you and your husband are doing okay. This is a very difficult time and it's tough to be strong. Hopefully you are getting support from family and friends. My husband, Lou, did NOT have chemo and radiation at the same time. His cancer is 80% small cell cancer which is an aggrassive cancer which tends to travel so they treated that first with chemotherapy. The goal was to have six cycles but after only three his bloodcount (platelets) were too low so they stopped chemo. We have moved on now to radiation which will treat the 20% transitional cell bladder cancer. Lou's chemo was geared to the small cell cancer which is typically found in lung cancer which is why they used cisplatin and etoposide, Lou never experienced any pain but the chemo did cause fatigue. Big time fatigue. However, he did manage to go to work five days a week but would be VERY tired when he got home. Fatigue where his entire body ached and it was difficult just to get up out of the chair. I personally think he did too much by insisting on working Monday thru Friday. Weekends he rested. I hope your husband handles the chemo well. Other than the fatigue Lou did pretty well. The anti nausia pills they have available now worked well for him. Please feel free to e mail me directly at mlipnos@alltel.net. God bless. Marilyn

I was rereading some of these posts and was wondering how your husband is doing with the radiation treatments. Monday will mark the halfway point of my husband's radiation treatments as well as his weekly chemotherapy. As you mentioned, extreme fatigue is his main symptom. He wants so badly to get back to his active routine, but his body tells him otherwise. It is truly a one day at a time process.

Has your husband had any recent scans? Will he try chemo again at a later date? I appreciate all the information you've provided. God bless you both.

Sheila, hope all is going well for your husband, and for you. Lou has completed his third week of radiation with no real problems. Three more weeks to go. Then...I am not sure. They did not really say anything about trying chemo again. I think they will just do more scans and chest x rays and hopefully nothing will show up. I believe then he will be watched every three months by the oncologist and scans. How is your husband doing with going through radiation and chemo at the same time? What kind of schedule does he have? This is certainly difficult but we just have to have the strength to get through it. God bless you and your family. Marilyn

Sheila, hope all is going well for your husband, and for you. Lou has completed his third week of radiation with no real problems. Three more weeks to go. Then . . . I am not sure. They did not really say anything about trying chemo again. I think they will just do more scans and chest x rays and hopefully nothing will show up. I believe then he will be watched every three months by the oncologist and scans. How is your husband doing with going through radiation and chemo at the same time? What kind of schedule does he have? This is certainly difficult but we just have to have the strength to get through it. God bless you and your family. Marilyn

It's been a month since I last wrote. By now I'm sure your husband is finished with radiation as is my husband. He finished the 6 weeks of chemo the Monday before last. On both treatments he seemed to do well; the chemo lowered his red blood cell count so they have given him shots of Aranesp (sp?). His main symptom is still extreme fatigue and weight loss. He meets with the medical oncologist tomorrow and will find out then about the chemo schedule from here on out. He will have another scan and scope in about 6 weeks.

I am returning to work this week; it will be very difficult to leave him. I feel fortunate that I was able to be with him these 7 weeks. In a month, I will be able to be with during the summer since I am a school librarian.

I hope your husband is doing well. God bless you both on this journey.