The beginning of my journey with BC

This is how my personal journey all began in July, 2007

I had been working on building my garage that Summer, and when I first noticed blood in my urine, I thought I had just overdone it a bit, but within a few days, I new that I needed to be checked out immediately.

7-10-07
I went to the emergency room at the hospital after a 2-3 week history of gross hematura, but with in the last 2-3 days started passing blood clots.
I had no pain, nausea, or vomiting. Had an aproximate weight loss of 15 lbs. in the last month. They scheduled me an appointment to see a
urologist the next day 7-11-07.

7-11-07
Went to the urologists office where he performed a cystoscopy of my bladder. At that point a 2-3 cm in diameter tumor was seen on the left lateral bladder wall. He said at that time it appeared high grade, and I
was added to the surgical list the next day for an outpatient surgery, that would be called a transurethral resection of bladder tumor ( turbt ) and
clot evacuation.

7-12-07
The aproximate 1 hour outpatient surgery preformed included :
1. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor
2. Bladder cystoscopy with random biopsies
3. Bladder cystoscopy with left retrograde pyelogram
4. Interpretation of fluoroscopy
5. Bladder cystoscopy with left stent placement
A #26 French resectoscope with the gyrus bipolar electrocautery devise was used for the resection. A #18 French foley catheter was inserted and I had to wear it home.
Initial pathology report was non invasive TA low grade papillary urothelial carcinoma. The reason for the stent placement was that the tumor was fairly
close to the ureter, and he thought he might have resected a little deep, and it might cause a problem, so it was more precautionary that anything else.

7-17-07
Today I went for a CT scan, with contrast, of my abdomen, and pelvis area.
Negative report of abdomen and pelvis. ureteral stent noted, as well as a Foley catheter is also present.
Went back to my urologist's office for my stent removal, and my retention, and voiding trial. They instilled 350cc into my bladder, and I then voided out
325cc without difficulty. No blood in urine. Removed Foley catheter. That was not fun, nor was the stent removal.
My urologist spoke with me, and said the tumor does not appear to be muscle invasive, and will see me back in 3 months, but if the final pathology report
comes back T1 we will begin BCG treatments.

10-23-07
3 month cystoscopy reveals no sign of reccurance.

1-18-08
3 month cystoscopy reveals no sign of reccurance.

4-25-08
3 month cystoscopy reveals a small papillary lesion. Instilled 2% lidocaine, and used the bugby electrocautery devise to coagulate the small lesion.
I experienced no pain with this procedure.

8-20-08
3 month cystoscopy reveals no sign of reccurance.

12-3-08
3 month cystoscopy reveals small mucosal abnormality less than 0.5 centimeters.
Instilled lidocaine into bladder and did fulgurate it with the bugby electrocautery.
I experienced no pain with this procedure.
At this point I had a lengthy discussion with my urologist, and we decided to start BCG theropy.
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I will add more to my journal as time allows starting with my first round of bcg treatments.
Sorry this is lengthy, but it is my step by step experience as of this last date.
Kyle