Background on the Diagnosis

Before I decided that we were in for the long haul, I planned to send periodic updates about John's situation.  This was the first one, giving some of the background and describing his TURBT procedure.  Now that we see that BC is going to be our main preoccupation for some time, I decided that a blog makes more sense.  Below is the text from the initial email I wrote on 4 September.  

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Some of you already know and some do not that on 8 August John was diagnosed with bladder cancer.  He had initial concerns in June while we were still living in Maine and things came to a crisis the day the moving truck was being loaded.  Because of that he had an appointment with a urologist here in Northampton immediately after we arrived.  Various tests and procedures ensued until the diagnosis was made.  Yesterday he had a surgical procedure at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.  The procedure is called TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor). 

Needless to say, we were hoping that the progress of the cancer was minimal and that the doc would send us off with a cheery farewell and a promise to "keep and eye on it".  This was not to be. 

On the other hand, things are not as dire as they might be.  Although extensive, the cancer does not appear to have gone through the bladder wall-- we are sure of nothing until we get the pathology report at the end of next week.  Bladder cancer is highly treatable and John's doctor, in whom he has great confidence, has already suggested that we may need to move on to Boston or Hartford for the next step.  

The surgery took about three hours and John was under general anesthesia for the duration.  He was pretty miserable when I finally saw him in recovery and remained uncomfortable for some hours.  He is reasonably cheerful this morning.  We take great comfort in the fact that our recent move to Massachusetts has brought us closer to family-- talk about timing!  Also, while our planned 27 day bicycle trip went out the window the minute the initial diagnosis was made, we are grateful that we can now attend Celia's wedding later this month.  

In light of the fact that we do not yet know the stage of the cancer, I might have waited to write this note.  On the other hand many people did know that a procedure was scheduled and were interested in an update.  So here it is and I will write again next week after the pathology report.