Latest messages for CancerCompass discussion http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,33386,0.htm Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Barb, I just became a member to this web site. My dad is 63 and was diagnosed with bladder cancer in Nov 08. He had his bladder and prostate removed in January. He did have 1 lymph node involved and is due to begin chemo shortly. He has had several set-backs- kidney infection 2X, major fatigue, loss of appetite, and depression. He has been delayed from chemo because he is so anemic and has lost so much weight. The urologist is telling my family that there may be many peaks and valleys in recovery but I am starting to believe that my Dad is giving up. He is normally such a strong person. This is so hard to see. I am terrified. How is your husband doing now? I hope that we will be going through a "peak" soon-he is so young. From what I know, this should be totally treatable after he gets through the chemo, I just need him to get his mind wrapped around this. He also had prostate cancer and he chose an ileal conduit to drain urine. It was really like 3 procedures in 1 surgery, which lasted 7 hours. My mom is holding up pretty well. I am about 2 hours from them (but out of state). The next step is to get his emotions controlled which I think will help him physically. Let me know if you have any advice and good luck to you and your husband. Amy AmysDad Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT On 2/20/2009 pharm wrote:The long wait to have surgery is over.  On February 9th, 2009 my husband had his surgery for bladder cancer at University of Chicago Hospitals.  He was able to go home on the 15th.  He was in surgery about 3 hours and in recovery about 2 hours.  They removed his bladder, prostate glands and lymph glands in the area.  All of this was sent to pathology to be analyzed to find out what kind of cancer cells and if it may have spread to other areas and also to determine if he will need further treatments.  We'll find out the results when he goes back for his first visit at the doctors office. While in the hospital he was given a pain pump with Dilaudid which he was able to administer to himself when the pain was a bit too much.  He had and still has a Jackson Pratt drainage bulb coming from the side of  his abdomen to drain any fluid that might be collecting in the abdominal area.  His incision was closed with staples which they will take out in the doctors office.   We are doing pretty well changing the stoma bag.  He is disappointed that he's still weak, tired and moving slowly but his home health nurse reminded him that he had major surgery and it'll take a while to build up energy.  Most of his day is spent watching TV and taking naps while in his PJ's.  His attitude is good so that's important.  We really appreciate all of the information that was sent to us from other bladder cancer patients.  Thank you, thank you.  I hope this information which I'm sending will help some of you who may be facing this situation.Barb  AmysDad Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT It for sure gets better faster as te weeks and months pass. I am 15 months post op and I am back to normal neo bladder is working great, Did he have this or anther devertion? Don Pilot Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT The long wait to have surgery is over.  On February 9th, 2009 my husband had his surgery for bladder cancer at University of Chicago Hospitals.  He was able to go home on the 15th.  He was in surgery about 3 hours and in recovery about 2 hours.  They removed his bladder, prostate glands and lymph glands in the area.  All of this was sent to pathology to be analyzed to find out what kind of cancer cells and if it may have spread to other areas and also to determine if he will need further treatments.  We'll find out the results when he goes back for his first visit at the doctors office. While in the hospital he was given a pain pump with Dilaudid which he was able to administer to himself when the pain was a bit too much.  He had and still has a Jackson Pratt drainage bulb coming from the side of  his abdomen to drain any fluid that might be collecting in the abdominal area.  His incision was closed with staples which they will take out in the doctors office.   We are doing pretty well changing the stoma bag.  He is disappointed that he's still weak, tired and moving slowly but his home health nurse reminded him that he had major surgery and it'll take a while to build up energy.  Most of his day is spent watching TV and taking naps while in his PJ's.  His attitude is good so that's important.  We really appreciate all of the information that was sent to us from other bladder cancer patients.  Thank you, thank you.  I hope this information which I'm sending will help some of you who may be facing this situation.Barb  pharm Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT