I've fought the cancer to a standstill. Took about 10 years. No more treatment. Just monitoring ...

[marble falls]

... I got so much support and energy from DU. It has has a large part in this good news.

It's "in situ", meaning it won't spread and probably will not grow.

Thanks to everybody helping me pull this off.

[walkingman]

1. Congrats!! Hopefully going that long means it more than likely not come back.

[marble falls]

12. It's still only four years after the last surgery, but we decided whatever we did medically: it would more ...

... about getting it done more than with comfort or vanity.

The Brucillis two years ago did not help!

But we were going for nothing less than a cure. Two different cancers. Two major surgeries, two series of BCG, three surgical removals of tumors, it's been a serious row to hoe.

The Brucillis took the wind out of me for 16 months before a contagious disease doctor found it. I was close to giving up.

But, I am healthy again.

[Yonnie3]

38. I did similar from 1995 through 2011 with 8 tumor surgeries

Several of the surgeries were for multiple tumors.

I had at least four six week courses of BCG. After the last six week course I had BCG maintenance treatments at increasing intervals. At months 3, 6,12, 18,24, 30, then at years 3, 4, 5 after which I decided to discontinue the maintenance therapy. I grew to hate those treatments.

I do annual cystoscopys now just to make sure I'm good. We started out at quarterly.

I'm wondering if you are doing the maintenance therapy. They called it Dr. Lamm's maintenance schedule.

[marble falls]

41. I went through the BCG cycle twice, and had the boosters. It was determined that my cancer wasn't responding to BCG ...

... and wasn't of a kind that would respond to chemo or radiation. So right to surgery. I was offered the three options.

1. Save as much bladder as possible and use a catheter - I'm as uncomfortable with a catheter as you, it was the deal breaker.
2. Remove the bladder, build a pouch from skin and implant it and put a cap on it and urinate with a syringe. Uh uh. Nope.
3. Remove the bladder, the prostate, the tubes from the kidneys and harvest colon (which was a bit problematic because my lower colon had been removed previously) and replace the tubes with the colon harvest, create a stoma to vent urine into a bag.

The partial colon resection was extremely rough, but the bladder surgery was above and beyond.

I was fortunate. My socialist health care system has taken care of everything, timely, with care, and cutting no corners.

I am fortunate. Life is good. The learning curve with the bag has had it's embarrassments, but has been quite tolerable. I had trouble for a few months with feeling of having been mutilated. But that passed. I've had a bit of pleasure in showing young doctors the stoma when they'd never seen one in real life, the bag being of a higher capacity than the the badder has been convenient, and with the leg bag I can drive a long time with no stops.

More importantly: I am alive.

[AllaN01Bear]

94. i had a cath in me for about a year. wound up in the icu with a infection and a high grade fever of 102 the last

urologist wanted me to self urinate as in per your step 2 . i said forget it. my current urologist was rather miffed and is miffed that the bag was in me for that long as is my chiropractic dr. hes miffed too also. eggscllent on your part.

[marble falls]

95. Life is tough, but we geezers are even tougher. We can hack it, especially with the wall at our backs ...

... TFG ain't shit compared to what we stared down.

[marble falls]

53. Yannie - I woke with a start this morning realizing I didn't thankyou for those times I messaged ...

... for advice and a word for hope. You were always there and you always had the info and the words I needed. Thankyou so much.

I needed to make this public. Thank you!

[Yonnie3]

98. I just noticed your response

I've been moving my household and been off DU for the most part. It has been challenging physically and mentally. All versions of Murphy's law seem to have been proven.

You are welcome, but It is not necessary to thank me. I simply communicated my thoughts as to how I got through the tough times with my illness.

[brer cat]

2. Very good news, marble falls!

[niyad]

3. Very good news indeed!

[mercuryblues]

4. I would call you a tough old bird

But that would imply you are done. You ain't done cook in' yet.

[marble falls]

14. Tough old bird is a title I wear with pride. I admit it: I am a geezer.

[surfered]

5. Good news...

…good luck,

[ShazzieB]

6. Excellent news!

Really glad to hear it!

[MOMFUDSKI]

7. Wow!

SO happy for you. Now ease on down the road.

[sprinkleeninow]

8. Glory Be!

🫶

[onecaliberal]

9. That is incredible.

[mountain grammy]

10. Good news!

So glad to see this.

[Karadeniz]

11. Hip hip hooray !!!!!!!

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. That's terrific news.

I'm relieved to hear it

[marble falls]

15. It was truly a fight. I saw so many guys at VA I could have been, not make it.

[redwitch]

16. Excellent!

Glad for the good news!

[lapucelle]

17. That's wonderful news.

[ancianita]

18. You'e amazing. Tough. So glad for you!

[Permanut]

19. Nicely done!

[Diamond_Dog]

20. That s certainly great news!

I’m so glad DUers gave you strength and optimism! I’m so happy for you. Wishing you continued good health and many more years here on DU.

Been 17 years for me and I still get nervous at my annual screening.

[marble falls]

22. It was tough and like the Stones sang, I had my moments of doubt and pain. Self pity, in my case ...

... but cancer won't respond to that in a good way. Having people to discuss and share with, like the Cleveland music scene with you was good medicine.

[Diamond_Dog]

36. You beat it, that's all that matters.

I’m happy that we had something to connect over!



On edit:

Just for fun…..

https://www.cleveland.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/07/156455cf60583/35-legendary-cleveland-agora-c.html

[marble falls]

42. What a blast - saw Runt, Pretenders, Caravan (not on the list) and several others I might have been ...

... a little too buzzed to remember.

Saw James Gang in Kent for $2.50 and $2.00 for a draft at Pirate's Cove in Kent. Sooo many concerts!

[Diamond_Dog]

74. That's great! $2 drafts, Lol. Probably that good old 3.2 beer that all the college kids drank.

Joe and his band used to play at teen dances at the Episcopal church several blocks from my childhood home! Probably around 1969-70. James Gang days.

Here’s another fun link. This photo was a bit before my time however. But I sure know the place. Check out the van in the background they used to haul all their equipment, Lol

https://www.kent.edu/magazine/news/flashback-3

[marble falls]

78. Where do you find this stuff! I caught him in '70 or so. Numbers Band and Glass Harp were regular acts upstairs ...

... when you got good, you got to play downstairs. Remember Wild Butter?

?si=H83Zbxos3sfbu7J9

[Diamond_Dog]

79. Hoo Boy ... I do not remember Wild Butter.

Their general sound seems kinda familiar, though. Can you elaborate?

Glass Harp, absolutely. Pride of Youngstown!

[marble falls]

84. Roxanne was a big hit in NE Ohio, they got a record deal and they didn't really have a big enough repertoire ...

... they did a lot of covers (pretty good, but covers). they were an Akron/Kent band. Lacewing came out of the wreckage when their label dropped them. The keyboardist wrote and performed Disco Duck. The lead guitarist joined a big Colorado band, Buck.

[marble falls]

21. The thing that really fired me up ...

... was seeing a guy walk in wearing a Navy Pea Coat. He had two shopping bags, one had a urine bag, the other a colostomy bag. He ignored the symptoms, they are easy to ignore until too late. His bladder cancer metastasized and went to his colon. He could have been me, he even looked like me. He was stoic in desperate situation with a not too much chance for relief.

I had a colon cancer removed about two years before, after starting treatment for bladder cancer. Fortunately for me they were not related.
But I knew: I did not want to be him and all of a sudden I stopped whining about the BCG treatments, which are HIGHLY unpleasant.

Having DU to support me through my travails meant everything to me.

[PlutosHeart]

23. Really happy for you

and wishing you everything good.

[2naSalit]

24. Congrats!

That's some really good news.

[MLAA]

25. Hooray!

[blm]

26. 🫶🏽

[Duncanpup]

27. Awesome

[Ferrets are Cool]

28. Congratulations x 1000

[Ms. Toad]

29. Way to go!! n/t

[cilla4progress]

30. Incredible.

Well done!!

[sheshe2]

31. Congratulations.

You fought and you won, marble falls.

[sueh]

32. That is fantastic news, marble falls!

I'm so happy for you!

[people]

33. Wonderful news!

So happy you have some peace now from this.

[barbtries]

34. That's great news.

Kudos for going through ten years of it ! That’s so long. I really hope you weren’t sick for so long

[marble falls]

47. I used to tell my wife: I'm starting to feel good, time for them to do something for my health to make me feel bad ...

... I was rarely disappointed: they could make me feel terrible. Then about two years ago I got sick from Brucillis that went for over a year before they figured out what it was - everyone felt it was a urinary infection that almost turned into sepsis twice. That actually was harder to deal with than the cancer. Finally VA put an infectious disease specialist on it, she found out what it was in a couple of weeks and cleared it up in a little over a month. Sixteen months of misery. The last few weeks before Dr Shou found the disease, I was figuring I was just failing from age and racing to the grave. That was as close as I came to giving up.

Thank G*D for my socialized health care system.

[wendyb-NC]

35. Congratulations!

So glad to hear, well done.

[summer_in_TX]

37. How wonderful! So pleased by your good news!

Here's to the rest of a wonderful life!

[OldBaldy1701E]

39. If I had anything to do with that energy, I am so glad to have done so.

[marble falls]

44. You betcha did!

[True Dough]

40. Wish you'd been able to spend that 10 years enjoying life worry-free

but hopefully the next 10 will be better than you could have imagined!

[marble falls]

45. If the previous 10 hadn't been spent, I'd have checked out five years ago. I wouldn't get the next or more ...

... it certainly changed my priorities. Life is good!

[JudyM]

43. Fantastic news.

Must be such a great relief. Congrats!

[marble falls]

46. Started walking on clouds today after we got the the results from tests I had yesterday with a report on the cancer ...

... that came along with it.

I feel great.

[Skittles]

48. someone is always here on DU

[marble falls]

50. Always and willing to provide support. Always.

[Dem2theMax]

49. SO happy to read this news!

No more treatment means go out and enjoy life!

[marble falls]

51. Getting that nagging beast off my shoulder is a huge relief. But I will an eye peeled.

[Goddessartist]

52. I'm so happy for you and us!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful news! I took a few days break so this is wonderful to come back to!

[marble falls]

54. Somrtimes we are a tribe, sometimes a small villiage, but we are always a family.

[Goddessartist]

55. Yes

and like a family, we are here for each other.

I've lost two siblings to cancer, and two ex husbands, and several friends...I'm glad you're here.

[marble falls]

56. Sorry for your losses. I am glad you're still standing.

[Goddessartist]

57. We both are!

I've survived a heart attack (NSTMI - Broken Heart syndrome), a brain aneurysm, and the removal of half of my thyroid! I can't sing anymore, but that's okay!

[marble falls]

59. This only proves how fortunate I am. I am sorry about your voice, but it means you can appreciate it in ...

... someone else in a deeper manner. That's a blessing more of us would benefit from - the appreciation of other's voices, not the loss of one's own.

[Prairie_Seagull]

58. Most excellent News.

"This is the way".

Still have my peacoat from the 70's, In box somewhere. Wife says I have more coats than any man on Earth. I tried my peacoat on when I turned 50 and while I could still button it, I could not fit a shirt underneath. haha

Good on you MF, hey I just noticed that. Funny.

[marble falls]

62. I've wanted another Pea Coat for years, so I checked out the cost on a real deal Navy coat from the manufacturer ...

... last night - $400+. I'll settle for a black scarf and the Blue Jacket's Manual. I can find a good used copy for under $5.00. The scarf is getting close to $100 the last time I looked, and looking this morning I can't even find one.

[Prairie_Seagull]

66. My wife got me a 'Blue Jackets' manual from 1942.

For Xmas this year. Only half way through but interesting read so far. Dramatically different that mine from 76 or there-a-bouts. The 42 version is in hardback and mine paperback but both have names stenciled on front cover. I will stop there for now but if you want more info, shoot me a pm.

[marble falls]

68. I'd like on from '72, bit I think I'd like one from 42, also!

[marked50]

60. Nice News-Congrats

[woodsprite]

61. Congratulations!!! I know how much of a relief you must feel. nt

[Solly Mack]

63. That's good news.

Hoping you get some much-needed rest.

[marble falls]

64. No such luck - my wife has much needed chores to be done. We're decluttering. But I am grateful for the wish!

[BumRushDaShow]

65. HUZZAH!

[marble falls]

72. Thanks. there were some rough times and times even opening the computer was too much to do. ...

... having MIRT was a motivator, even if my contribution lagged.

[twodogsbarking]

67. I am sorry so many get cancer but tratment has improved so much. So much learned so much more to learn.

Thanks to all for sharing your stories. Cancer sucks out loud.

[marble falls]

69. It's amazing how quickly treatment advanced in just the last few years. I really believe they will turn most ...

... cancers into a nuisance by the end of the decade.

[twodogsbarking]

71. This girl is from the area where I grew up. Emily Whitehead.

[link:https://emilywhiteheadfoundation.org/our-journey/|

[marble falls]

87. What a fighter. Her name is so close to my daughter's name. It's just no joke when they say "it could be you".

[70sEraVet]

70. Congrats, mf!!

[flying_wahini]

73. Fantastic news: go ahead and go out in the sunshine and breathe the cool air and dance,dance,dance.

[Fla Dem]

75. What wonderful news for you and your family.

Congratulations on winning a long and hard fought battle. All the best to you in the coming years.

Live your life to the fullest!

[peggysue2]

76. What a journey!

But yes, congrats. And as you said up thread--despite all you went through, you're alive and functioning and carrying on.

That's a very good thing. May you have many good years ahead, marble falls.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

77. Congratulations

I am so glad that you have this cancer under control.

[pandr32]

80. Well done!

[malaise]

81. So happy for you

[SidneyR]

82. I have high grade in situ

and that, I understand, is NOT good. It tends to return over and over again. I just finished the initial 6 X BCG; my follow-up cystoscopy is on Feb. 6. I will do just about anything to keep my bladder. In fact, if giving it up is the only alternative, I may choose to check out instead. That is not the quality of life I want. I'll soon be 69. Maybe that's enough.

[marble falls]

88. Please rethink this. That was my diagnosis on the bladder cancer. I had my bladder removed at 70 ...

... it has a learning curve, mostly minor embarrassment.

PLEASE message me. I needed two DUers to talk to me and it made the difference.

[LoisB]

83. Wonderful news.

[58Sunliner]

85. Congratulations!!

[gademocrat7]

86. Wonderful news!!!!

Three cheers for you, marble falls!! You are a warrior!!👏👏🤗

[appalachiablue]

89. Bravo and congratulations! All the best, and enjoy life now!

[Evolve Dammit]

90. Fantastic news marble falls!!

[wryter2000]

91. Fabulous news

[Chicagogrl1]

92. Woohooo!! Congrats!

DU is such an amazing place!

[marble falls]

93. This a good place to get better and heal.

[calimary]

96. I love good news!!!

Thanks for keeping us posted along your journey, marble falls. So glad to hear the good prognosis!

[marble falls]

97. This is where I got encouragement. I'm trying to pay my pretty good outcome forward. There's hope for everyone.