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My Dad is going to be 80 years old and was just diagnosed with small cell bladder cancer, only 1% of the folks have this. Does anyone know anyone who has or had this, and what was their survival time. Anyone have any information about this?
Cancer Surgery Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Small cell bladder cancer Bladder cancer
Small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare and highly aggressive tumor. The optimal treatment for locally advanced small cell bladder carcinoma is not clear.
Bladder Cancer WebCafé
http://blcwebcafe.org/ccdrt.asp
Hi Randy,
I'm sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis.
My dad was also diagnosed with small cell bladder cancer recently (in August). He began a platinum based chemotherapy regime in September (4 rounds). He just completed it and will go for CT scans tomorrow.
He is supposed to now either have bladder removal surgery (radical cystectomy) OR radiation therapy.
According to our doctor at Hopkins - this type of cancer is very aggresive and metastatic. Back in August, he wanted to do surgery. But now, he says that surgery will not do much for this type of cancer and to opt for radiation therapy instead.
Apparently, there was a study completed recently which stated that regardless of treatment (chemo w. surgery, or chemo w radiation) - the outcome was the same.
So, now they are steering us in the direction of radiation. It is up to my dad as to which direction he wants to go in. Personally, I feel that surgery is the better route due to some journal articles I have been reading. I mean - I've read a study about 5 year disease free rates with those who underwent a platinum based chemo regime and then followed up with bladder removal surgery at about 73%. But, I am not a doctor - and believe that a doctor would probably know much better than I would.
It is so frusterating because there is so little that is understood about small cell bladder cancer. As soon as we received the diagnosis, I didn't know what to think as I hadn't even considered small cell as a possibility. Then, when I got home and went online to get more information - I cried my eyes out.
I am curious to know if they have started some sort of treatment for your dad and if so, how is he doing?
So far, my dad is doing alright - it seems that the chemo regime (carboplatinum and etoposide) is working. But, we really do not know until after the results of his scans come in. Then, we plan for part B of his treatment - which (hasn't yet been decided).
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