Its Time For Sugery

I have put off writing this blog for a long time.  Everyday I planned to write it another awesome excuse came to postpone it.  And then I finally figured out what I wanted to say.  I planned to start it this way:

"When I first started blogging about having bladder cancer, I did not realize then the complete ramifications of the cystectomy procedure - taking the back-stabbing bladder out.  While taking out the cancerous bladder was obviously required to rid the body of cancer, that meant writing about a lot of delicate anatomical issues - embarrassing stuff.  Because of that, not much is written about bladder cancer and people don't confirm having it.  Also, it lags behind cancer research funding even though its the fourth most diagnosed cancer.  And I BET you don't know ONE famous person who has ever publicly acknowledged having bladder cancer."

Then Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead releases a public statement this week saying he has bladder cancer.  Great, blew my whole thesis.  So I'll just get to the point.  (He has non muscle invasive and his prognosis is good.)

I had a CT scan about 3 weeks ago to determine how my body responded to the chemotherapy...which had just ended at that time.  The CT scan came back showing no obvious signs of cancer in the areas one would be concerned about; local lymph nodes, liver, lung, bones.  Whew!  No spread at this time.

They always do a CT scan before surgery because if it had showed up anywhere the surgery would have been cancelled.  No need to go through the removal of the bladder if the cancer had already escaped the bladder.

So, the plan has always been, 1) Cisplatin/Gemcitabin chemo to kill any cancer cells that have escaped the bladder and kill the cancer in the bladder, 2) remove the bladder, prostate and as many lymph nodes in the area as you can possibly reach and hope that is all the cancer there remains in the body.  70% of the time, if I am still Stage 2 after post-operative pathology, that is all the cancer there is.

Soooooo....the surgery is Friday, October 23.  Been trying not to think about this one.  I've had surgery before.  Major surgery too.  When I was young I had multiple ear surgeries that required general anesthesia and hospital stays.  But this is different.  This time they are going to re-engineer my insides.  Cut things out; re-attach things here; completely cut holes in things.  A lot of bad shit.  Scary.  I've read a lot about how folks say after 3 months they are back on their feet doing everything they used to do.  I hope so.

I got the doctor I wanted.  Dr. Nix is the surgeon who does a lot of these procedures.  Only met him once. His Intern comes in first; to brief me on the surgery.  We talk about a lot of things, and the subject turned to "Nerve sparring to save sexual function".  The Intern says, "Well, the doctor will do all he can but this is a delicate procedure, its 50/50."  I was stoic.

Then the doctor comes in, looks like maybe 30; Janice says 38.  He's confident.  Real confidant.  I mean REAL confident.  Strides in and takes a seat.

"I'm going to go over a few things, and then I'm going to let (forget the Intern's name) go over a few things and evaluate his responses".  I really only remember two things:

First, when the subject turned to the Nerve Sparring Surgery again he pipes in...

"Hell, I have done a lot of these surgeries and I get pissed off, I mean REALLY PISSED OFF if you don't get a boner in 3 months or less!"

Okay, I thought, I like that enthusiasm and attitude.

The second thing I remember, when I asked what to do if something doesn't feel right when I get home since I'm so far away?  ER, local doctor?

"Text me.  You'll have my cell phone number before you leave. Text me first and I'll text you what to do."  He's waving his cell phone at me.  He was also returning texts while the other doctor was talking to me...I forgive you now!

So that's all I know for now.  The big update will be 10 days to 2 weeks after the surgery when the pathology comes back from everything they removed from me.  Was the cancer contained in the bladder, if so, how far in the muscle layer?  Lymph nodes clean?  Prostate?  That's when the prognosis is much clearer.

I would like to take a moment and thank everyone who has messaged me an encouraging comment, came up to me and said you were praying for me or thinking about me, and those who have done the same to Janice.  There have been so many and it has really been a blessing.

Until next time!  Below is Dr. Jeffery Nix.  The future of my junk is in his hands!