Roller coaster plunge

We saw the oncologist last night.  Walt's bladder cancer has spread into his abdominal cavity.  Another PET scan and labs will be done in about a month to determine the best chemo protocol for the situation.  We're fine and facing this like we always do - head on.  Thank you for your continued support and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Update

Walt had a biopsy of the abdominal lesion today.  We should have answers within 2 weeks.  Until I write again, thank you for your continued prayers of support.

Susan

Good news!

Walt had a cystoscopy this morning....no new bladder tumors!  Will repeat the procedure in 3 months.  The recent brain MRI showed marked decrease in the lesion size and no new lesions!  June 6 he will have a biopsy of the lesion on his small bowel (outpatient).  The doctor may elect to do a small bowel resection at this time (several days in the hospital).  Thank you for your continued support!

Latest health update

We've seen the urologist and will continue to monitor the bladder cancer through periodic cystoscopies.  The lungs are still clear, the brain tumor hasn't grown.  There is a lymph node in the abdomen that has grown since the last PET scan and will be biopsied before Walt's next appointment in early May.  The current schedule is to monitor lab work and scans on a quarterly basis.  Just another twist in the road.

Latest reports are in

Radiation has stabilized the brain tumor which means it hasn't grown; there's been some reduction in size.  Walt will have periodic MRIs to monitor the progress. 

The 2nd cystoscopy revealed no cancer in the bladder muscle.  We'll see the urologist later this month to discuss treatment options (some form of chemo is necessary).

The lungs are clear of cancer; periodic scans will be done.

Short of hoping that he was completely cancer-free, this is the best outcome we could have expected.

Repeat cystoscopy

Walt's repeat cystoscopy was today.  The urologist removed more bladder muscle tissue so the pathologist can give a better report on the exact cancer and it's stage.  By early afternoon we were back home and he was resting comfortably.  Surgery went as expected.

Well...damn and blast.

The doctor called last night with the results of the pathology report on Walt's bladder tumors.  They were malignant.  The pathologist needs even more tissue from underneath the tumors to determine if the bladder wall is also involved.  The cystoscopy will have to be repeated after next month's post-op appointment (need time for the body to heal).  Further treatment will be determined by these results.