Today we had the review with the consultant about the results of the procedure, all the tests and scans, and an indication of what treatment we can expect. So let me try and explain what they found.
There were in fact several tumours in the bladder. One of those has grown into the wall and created what's termed a "blow out". When this happens the cancerous cells change into a hard solid tumour and have become a type of cancer called "neuro endocrine"cancer. This is malignant, and fairly aggressive. At this point the next step is to whether it has spread into other parts of the body. There are 2 confirmed places which are the right humerus (bone in the upper arm) and the 1st lumbar vertebra. The consultant showed us an x-ray of the upper arm and the cancer has compromised the bone mass in the centre of the humerus. This can create issues such as weakening, and possibility of fracture. There is also a couple of "spots"showing on the liver, so an MRI will be done to ascertain more about that.
The plan for treatment seems to be chemotherapy: this will be done initially over six 3week cycles totalling 18 weeks. There will be a load of assessment before that, and effectively we have been handed over from the Urology team to the Oncology team who will now arrange all the chemotherapy and support. I have been assigned a Macmillan oncology nurse, who is a specialist and becomes my first point of contact. She is there to answer questions, deal with concerns, and provide access to other teams and specialists as required.
Once the cancer has gone "secondary" ie spread elsewhere, the treatment is what is called "palliative" rather than "curative". Palliative basically deals with management of the symptoms rather than removing the actual cause, so that is the route down which we go.
Having said all that the consultant told me that neuro endocrine cancer should respond well to chemotherapy. The fact also that chemo is administered via the bloodstream enables treatment to be received by the whole body, unlike radiotherapy which is more location specific.
I have to say that the 3 weeks since the operation have been the longest three weeks of my life! So many questions, and very few answers. We had our fair share of tears, and until those concerns were addressed it's natural to think the worst I guess. Provided the cancer responds to the treatment I expect to be around for a while yet!
The sudden realisation that you have cancer hits you like a sledgehammer. On 9th February after 2 months of tests and all sorts thats what they told me. In more ways than one it's a life-changing moment and your mind goes into overdrive thinking all kinds of worst case scenarios.
