When my doctor told me I had bladder cancer
Posted By: Gloria on 2006-09-15
In Reply to: OK, if you'll admit to it. Are you a smoker? sm - MTPuffer
he told me it was caused directly by smoking. He told me I would have to quit immediately. I continued to sneak and smoke for the next two weeks while undergoing an extensive workup including multiple office visits, x-rays, 3 cystoscopies (1 in the office, 2 in the hospital), blood work, MRIs, CTs, bone scan,.....
I had an in-patient cysto on a Monday, and my oncologic urologist told me I had 4 bladder tumors that needed to be removed, but he wanted me smoke free for two complete weeks due to the extensive nature of the surgery. I was discharged on a Tuesday morning and puffed my very last cig on the way home. The next two weeks were spent crying...out of fear of what was going to happen to me as well as desperately wanting a cigarette and knowing I couldn't have one. Following surgery (removal of entire bladder and lymph nodes, a complete hysterectomy, removal of most of my terminal ileum, and creation of a neobladder) I spent 1-1/2 weeks in the hospital and was too busy praying that I would die (morphine barely touched the excruciating, never-ending pain...) to even think about wanting a cigarette. Today (18 months later) I am smoke free. Every once in a while I'll think I'd like to have a cigarette, but then I remember all the terrible pain I had; I remember hearing my husband and daughter crying as they stood at my bedside; I remember the fear that gripped me; I remember hearing my doctor say if I smoke again I have a 70% chance of developing mets to liver, lung, or bone over the next five years. By not smoking, I've given myself a $120 a month raise ($4 a pack x 30 days).
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my doctor told me...
my doctor told me a long time ago that transcription was the worst field I could possibly be in becuase of degenerative joint disease, chronic back and hip pain, migraines, depression, etc., and that I needed to find a different job immediately. Of course, I did not listen because I liked the money, but now am definitely paying with my health.
I have started college now to try to get to something else before I totally destroy my body - physically and mentally!
Was that what your doctor told you?....nm
nm
I have these and this is what my doctor told me. sm
Of course, you know there are two types of lenses--hard and soft. I wear hard lenses and have for 33 years. The problem with the hard lenses is that as you age, your eye flattens out (astigmatism) and the lens doesn't sit on your eye correctly. This is what happens to me; they are wonder for the first couple of months but then my eyes must change shape, the lenses don't "sit" right and I need to use the cheaters. With soft lenses, you never had the sharp, crisp sight that you have with hard lenses, but they will conform more readily to your eye surface. I personally like the crisp sight so I choose to walk around with my cheaters stuck on top of my head all the time.
My sister's doctor told her
years ago she needed to stop using Aspartame if she wanted her headaches to go away. The MD said it caused tiny holes in the brain, for one thing. This was probably 3 years ago. So I stopped using artificial sweeteners too, except for a couple of times a year.
When I saw a neurologist for meralgia paresthetica and found out I was taking something to keep migraines away, she told me to never use Aspartame. She did not go into detail.
Some new diet cola product came out with a name that made it sound like it would be a safer product, but on checking the label, I was surprised to see it had old-fashioned Aspertame. I wrote to the company and told them that neurologists were telling their patients to avoid this sweetener, and they wrote back and tried to say that there were studies proving its safety. Why take a chance. Better to quit drinking soda; the acid rots teeth and it's just empty calories, as my mother would say.
It isn't so tempting anyway unless it's in a glass bottle, ice cold.
My doctor told me I have all the symptoms of "Andropause"...
Otherwise known as "male menopause"!! Sheesh! That explains a lot, lol. She said most men start to experience in their mid to late 40's (I'm 47), and I do believe it. Darn, I thot guys were spared all that "hot flash" stuff! 
s-wall of bladder
In a laser lithotripsy report I'm hearing, "gravel from prior S-wall in the bladder" and "pieces down there from prior S-wall". I know there is no S-wall, so what could it be? Thanks!
thats kinda hard on your bladder
you could eat something salty (? popcorn), try spring water, iced water, a squeeze of lemon or a bit of vinegar in it... its what your body NEEDS!! :)
Bowel or bladder Smith
it is SPARC sling bladder suspension procedure. nm
x
I was told I needed 2 phone lines, but was told I was dialing into the doctors' system. What woul
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Yes, boob is bowel obstruction, and boo is bladder outlet obstruction.
... while fizzies changes to effervescent agent (just because one radiologist right out school used to call it that, LOL).
Tax guy told me to hold 30%. After first year when got idea what I would be making, he told me
:P
Call your doctor - this is not a doctor forum! nm
x
You know the difference between God and a doctor? God doesn't think he's a doctor. nm
X
I told you once, I told you twice, eTransPlus is going down the drain!
Don't expect communication from anyone, we are only little "peons."
cancer
My husband might be diagnosed with oral cancer. He has had a lump in his cheek for awhile and wasn't really concerned about it until he went to the doctor for a check-up. The doc is sending him to have it looked at more thoroughly. Any words of encouragement or anyone that has gone through this. Thanks
Cancer
Please let me know if you need any moral support and feel free to write me. Read my post on MTStars.
Margaret
cancer.
x
cancer.org
They have a great cancer drug list. I really like oncology except when my doc does a weeks worth of dictations all in one day.
why so much cancer?
Did you know about the atomic bomb testing/nuclear bomb testing done around the world? Well worth researching. I was shocked to find out that it was more than originally led on, well over 700 bombs and I cann't remember if it is just our country or if the numbers were world wide. Then we have companies that polute our water, our land fills, our air... We have paved roads that are giving off gases constantly into the air, not including the vehicles that give off gases continuously, encircling the earth. Do you know about the carcinogens in the plastics that hold bottled water? Chemicals added to food is going to build up in the tissues... Deodorant is not safe, either, and we don't stop there with hygiene chemicals...
cancer sites
I usually use the NIH-National Cancer Institute site. It has listing of clinical trials, types of drugs, different types of cancer treatments. I also depend heavily on the Oncology Word Book by Stedman.
Okay, my experience with cancer
Rather I should say my husband's. He was diagnosed 6 years ago with stage III colorectal cancer. Very advanced out of the bowel wall. They did not think they could cure it, but did say maybe remission. I was floored and in tears always. My hubby was a young man, 50. He had been misdiagnosed by several other doctors and it had reached a very large size by the time it was found. It was found by a doctor I did transcription for. This was God's intervention, because I feel this wonderful doctor was put in our lives to save my husband. He came and asked me several times to do his transcription and I was so busy I turned him down, but he was such a nice man, I finally said okay. Well I was talking to him and I mentioned my husband's problem and he said to bring him into the office. This doctor found the cancer on my husband's first visit. We had a wonderful surgeon and a wonderful oncologist. (By the way, all except the surgeon were ESLs so I love doing ESLs now, have a soft touch for them.)
My husband had a very large cancer. They were very concerned. We sought alternative therapies, in addition to traditional therapies of chemo and radiation. He had a 6-hour surgery, blood transfusions twice, blood clots, DVT, abscesses, etc. It was touch and go, I felt. Like being on a rollercoaster. We prayed and prayed. We spent lots of money on alternative therapies that we researched on the internet. Also he had conventional therapy, except had to stop the chemo because of low blood counts.
Well my hubby is still alive today, no sign of the cancer. In the doctor's consultation letter he uses the word "amazing" about not finding ANY sign of cancer during the surgery. Everything was just dead tissue, they could find no viable cancer, just friable tissue. I really believe that with the help of prayer, the angels, God, alternative and natural therapies, plus excellent regular medical treatment, a positive attitude and creative visualization (which my husband also used) that it saved his life. We moved 3000 miles after that cancer to where we always wanted to live in the mountains on a farm, both our dreams. I feel like I am living in heaven. I don't get too worried about what is going on at transcription companies, just do my work, because are so much more important things to concentrate on.
Very little gets either of us down anymore because we learned the hard way what is truly important in life. My three children have their dad still and I still have my husband.
Good luck and I am praying for you. Remember, cancer IS curable.
Cancer - moody as all get-out and
sometimes very touched and concerned about my transcription patients. Even though I know they are totally in another part of the US.
Leo. On the cusp with Cancer.
Very appropriate!
Cancer ..... Leo cusp nm
nm
Just had a doc say a guy with gastric cancer was...
admitted to the OB/GYN service. (I didn't miss something in my training, did I?)
does anyone know if bone cancer is always..sm
metastatic or can cancer originate in the bone?
Breast cancer
Does any one on this board know where I might find a sample report with regards to breast cancer? Any tips greatly appreciated. I want to be sure to get all of the stages ect. right on and though I have MT experience this is my first shot in the area of breast cancer clinics.
Breast Cancer
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. I had a sterotactic biopsy last Wed. I had one 4 years ago that was clean and assumed this one was too. Yikes!! That didn't happen. I was given an option of mastectomy or lumpectomy and radiation. That's the good news, as the tumor is less than 5 cm. I'm really scared. I recently moved to Virginia (about 60 miles south of Roanoke) so I haven't made any friends and no close family nearby. Luckily, I'm close enough to the local hospital and work at home to be able to go for the daily radiation treatments for 6 weeks. Surgery is scheduled for next Friday and then the wait to find out if the cancer has spread, what type, the extent of the treatment, etc. I really do appreciate everyone's kindness and prayers. I will also buy a copy of the book tomorrow. Also have a really good to reason to march with all the "pink" ladies now :-) Bless you all for your kindness
Breast Cancer
Thank you so much for your words. Of course, I was so unprepared, and my world is not what it was 4 days ago. My only son is graduating from college on the west coast in mid June (I'm on the east coast) and it will be cutting it close to get my tired butt on a flight, but I'm determined to make it :-)
cancer terms
http://www.onelook.com
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd/
It won't take cancer to quit smoking. Try
ASTHMA, a common problem for smokers. When you can't breathe when there is a strange odor around such as perfume, you won't get near a cigarette because if you do, you won't be able to breathe. You will cough, and choke and gasp for air and feel air hunger when you sit down. It is not a fun way to live, and I absolutely LOVED my cigarettes, a real hard core addict to nicotine.
Yes, Libra, with Cancer rising.
she was in Mexico for treatment for cancer, BUT...
From what I heard on GMA a few days ago, the clinic she was in was deplorable. There was even an article about it on the Watchdog website, AND the man running the clinic was NOT a doctor. So, what does that say about the person or persons who took this woman there for treatment?
for lung cancer in 1980.......nm
xx
A breast cancer warning sm
Let me tell you a true story. I am hesitant to tell it because I want every woman to have a mammogram and to be tested as often as possible. In 2000 a surgeon I had trusted for 30 years read my path report of a biopsy he did for a suspicious small lump. The pathology report came back as "atypical ductal carcinoma insitu which some may call atypical hyperplasia." This surgeon literally yelled in my face "You have breast cancer and that breast has to come off." Due to the fact that friends of mine had suffered lymphoma and other complications from mastectomy, I asked him again if mastectomy was the only answer. He was extremely stern with me and said it was, and my only other alternative would be lumpectomy with radiation and he would not guarantee it. Due to other problems of health issues in the family (serious) I wondered about my ability to type or transcribe again. I even asked him to keep it from my husband until I decided what to do and he called my husband in his office (my husband was very ill at the time). I called my health care provider and asked about a second opinion, they said get as many as I was comfortable with. I was referred to the head of oncology at another facility (IMPORTANT) and he referred me to a breast surgeon. I told her that I had read Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book and I read about surgeons leaving "dirty margins" from the first biopsy and questioned if lumpectomy would be just as good as mastectomy. I told the second surgeon (a breast surgeon) I had heard of a physician from "Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book"who practiced at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. The new breast surgeon did the second operation which was removal of the rest of the "dirty margins" and my slides were sent to Vanderbilt. Their opinion was that no further treatment would be necessary. The breast surgeon called a tumor board meeting and it was their opinion that they were not sure if I did indeed have "breast cancer." The radiologist who was at that tumor board meeting said she would not radiate me since they were not sure it was cancer, as if I did get cancer back in that breast, she could not radiate me again. By the way, the first surgeon whom I had trusted for 30 years told me to "to go ahead and listen to your neighbor and your hairdresser and you'll be back here with more cancer and it will be too late for you then because we don't know what's in the rest of that breast!" He also was very angry that the other doctors told me I had every right to have a plastic surgeon present at operation to install Expanders should I decide to have a mastectomy and want plastic surgery down the road. He was very upset with that and upset at the fact that I would have had my own plastic surgeon of my choice. He wanted that mastectomy done "last week" were his very words. Well, it's 2006, I have had 6 month mammos on that breast and yearly mammos on both breasts since 2000. I did have a needle aspiration for the tiniest lump in that breast which was benign, then I had a stereotactic biopsy on that breast because I was watched closely for 5 years, that biopsy was insufficient for diagnosis, so I underwent another surgical biopsy in 1/05 which turned out to be "atypia." So, whether I am a fool for not having the mastectomy, I can't really say, but I can say that I did question, read, study, make my own decisions. I did not have a mastectomy in 2000, I still have that same breast (a bit smaller, but who cares?) and I still have negative mammos every 6 mos. except for the two ? findings later on. I refused tamoxifen for my own personal reasons, although it is the treatment of choice. I am very, very reluctant to tell this story for fear of just one woman letting a cancer go undetected. On the other hand, I am telling it here (now for the first time) because I want women to know they have a right to make a decision with regard to their own bodies and ask intelligent questions. You have every right. Just be sure you get many high-level opinions. By the way, I did get put on a lot of prayer lists as well. I do believe God helps those who help themselves. I will never be sorry for the chances I took and the choices I made. I hope that trusted old surgeon is NOT right (my new breast surgeon says he is from the "days of yore"}. The important thing is to get tested, get more than one opinion and please, please, if you believe, pray, and talk, talk, talk, and read, read, read. Learn when to say "yes" and learn when to say "no". I hope I didn't scare anyone, but there is hope and help out there for those who are willing to use their intelligence. For any of you who think I did it for cosmetic reasons -- absolutely not! I would not have even wanted expanders for further plastic surgery. I am a grandmother, not interested in body beautiful. I was the sole source of income due to an unfortunate circumstance with my husband and we would both have been "down" at the same time. I did it because I had to at least ask what my options were. So far, so good. Please pray that I did the right thing and please know that you too have "options" to consider. Please be sure to go to a "different" facility for a "different" opinion, not the same as the one who diagnosed you. I sure hope this helps someone some day, but please, please if the second opinion says the breast must be removed, then you will absolutely have to listen and you will do fine. My new breast surgeon said if it were ever necessary, she could remove both breasts, freeze and save the nipples and do a reconstruction for her patients if they desired it down the road. There are tons of new options for us out there. But ASK!. My message to you is GET CHECKED, and make those checkups regular, there are clinics that will take you for free. I hope if they do find something, you have as good a result as I did. Please go, and please ask questions and get other opinions. Good luck and God bless. Hope I helped someone today but I really, really do not want anyone to miss anything that could kill them, so be aware that this is only my story, but it's true and it may give someone else with atypical ductal carcinoma in-situ some help, hope and understanding.A mastectomy is not a bad thing, not in today's world, but I want you to know that there are tons of options for you and I hope you take advantage of the best ones for you, God forbid, you every need that kind of help. You may E-mail me but I won't "practice medicine without a license," I just want to share my experience and strength with you and urge you to get tested soon!
I know what you mean, I lost my dad to lung cancer....sm
about 9 months ago and then my 12-day-old grandson passed away the day after my father passed away. It seemed like for the next month or so every day I typed at least two terminal cancer patients and several sick children. It is hard not to get emotionally attached sometimes.
she just learned she has breast cancer
did you think about that?
Can you get cancer from chronic mouth
I have a wisdom tooth that is coming in. I do NOT do well w/ dentists/anesthesia, etc...well a few months back i had an appointment to have this removed. long story short even though the dentist knew I was freaked out about the local anesthesia he took so long to do the extraction my mouth was no longer numb when the hygenist tested my gum area. I freaked out, left crying and vowed to never go back to him. Well now that the tooth is slowly coming in more and more i have an ulcer that seems to be getting bigger from where i am more or less chewing the inside of my mouth.
It doesn't really hurt or bother me that much, i would much rather deal with the ulcer than have another panic attack/heart racing event from the local at the dentist's office. My concern is this: Can you develop cancer from a chronic mouth ulcer? My aunt died of oral (tongue) cancer last year so i'm paranoid about it.
Any info you can give is welcom. Thanks!
American Cancer Ctr of America
nm
I never mentioned that I had cervical cancer
No, I made it a point not to mention that I had cervical cancer for just that reason. I had strong issues against the whole Gardasil thing long before my daugther's doctor brought it up. When I left the room for the rest of the exam, apparently the doctor was trying to talk my daughter (still a minor) into the injection. Even if she had changed her mind, I still have the final say. She has the same feelings as I do --she hears the bad side effects ect on the news/reads it on-line. I just think it should be illegal, if it isn't already for any doctor to do that. Yes, I am stressed out. I have been working like a dog for two weeks straight without any days off, but I do not like when doctors go behind my back on issues my minor childern cannot decide upon. I have been reading info on Gardasil for months now, most of it not promising. They even haulted production for a time because of side effects and sales have gone down 16% because people are starting to see the negative results. Some doctors are even coming forward and saying that it should not be mandatory. I think it should not even be on the market. Class action lawsuits are forming as I type this.
Believe it or not, nonsmokers get lung cancer too. It's genetic NM
<
Here's a different perspective on what really caused lung cancer.
http://www.vialls.com/transpositions/smoking.html
Might try MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. NM
NM
Tumor/Cancer Registrar question
Hi All .... I've been an MT for 13 years, but was interested in obtaining info about a cancer/tumor registrar position.
Can anyone tell me what they know about the position. I've been looking online, and I see I need a coding course, certification, etc. How can I get more info about getting started? Where do I start - a coding course only? Could I obtain an entry level position? I've been in the medical records field for a long time - is my MT experience a foot in the door ?
What about salary? Someone told me it pays better than what an MT would make. Is this true?
Any info would be a blessing! Thanks a heap ...
JoJo
Also sending prayers your way. Both my parents are cancer
survivors and hopefully your best friend will be also.
My mother has been in remission for seven years and my Dad a little over one year.
When my mother had cancer, hospice provided me
The hospital may also be a source of information on where you can get forms. The POA is an actual legal document. You could try to 'google' for free forms. You may want to think about a general POA so you can handle her finances, also, in case she becomes totally incapacitated. It makes a big difference in handling her affairs - without those papers, it makes it a lot harder to handle her affairs for her, including paying her bills and making decisions. Don't wait - get it done now just in case things get worse. Good luck and best wishes.
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