I had my bladder cancer surgery in January 2001.
Bladder cancer ‘chemo wash’ was not available to me as a procedure at that time.
Chemo wash is a relatively new procedure in the treatment of bladder cancer.
One of the pioneers in chemo wash was Dr. Ryan Holbrook who helped develop this method for treating abdominal cancer. After all the tumors were surgically removed, the abdominal cavity was washed with a warm solution of chemotherapy. Dr. Holbrook in the beginning used to insert his hand into the abdominal cavity and stir the solutions around all the organs to make sure that all areas where tumors were removed were saturated with the chemotherapy. The abdominal cavity was closed and a tube was placed into the cavity so that further ‘chemo wash’ could be carried on over the next few days.
Dr. Holbrook found that this procedure greatly increased the survival rate of his patients. He moved on the experiment with other areas of the body where cancer tumors were present.
I did a quick search to see if there has been publications regarding the use ‘chemo wash’ in bladder cancer but found very little information.
Here are two very interesting sites that I did find ‘ chemo wash‘ mentioned.
I have mentioned this person before in previous posts. I received an Email regarding their update over the weekend.
This person was diagnosed with stage III bladder cancer. One tumor approx. two inches in diameter found that had invaded the bladder wall. This tumor was removed and a ‘chemo wash’ of the bladder was carried out over the next four days. The urologist recommended that the bladder be removed. This particular urologist was unable to take this case any further.
A second Urologist was found at a very prestigious hospital that was well known for its care of cancer patients. The second urologist set up a schedule of chemotherapy prior to surgery for removing the bladder. He also ordered a batch of tests and procedures prior to surgery.
One of the procedures was to obtain samples of tissue from within the bladder concentrating on the area where the cancer tumor was attached to the bladder wall. A total of seven samples were obtained and sent to the Pathologist for examination.
The results of the examination of these tissues came back a few days ago. To everyone’s surprise, all samples were NEGATIVE for cancer cells. One of the samples was from the bladder wall where the tumor was attached.
Does this mean that the ‘chemo wash’ killed off any remaining cancer cells that were still present after the tumor was removed? A discussion of these results has to wait until the Urologist returns from holidays.
Will the bladder be removed or not?
This would be fantastic news if it means that any remaining cancer cells were destroyed by the ‘chemo wash’. I will keep you updated on this person’s progress.
Had this procedure been routine seven years ago, at the time of my surgery, perhaps I would be peeing the normal way and not through a hole on my abdomen. I am as jealous as hell but listen WHAT FANTASTIC PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.
To me one very, very important concern is left. Did even one cancer cell breach the bladder wall?
More on this in my next post.
Posted on March 24th, 2008 by Neil
Filed under: Bladder Cancer - Background, My Cancer
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