Should I skip bladder removal surgery after clean scans for bladder cancer?

My husband is 77 as well and has invasive muscle cancer as well. He was told by urologist surgeon to remove bladder . Needs chemo and radiation . He wants to keep his bladder the cancer doc said hr maybe be ok for surgery but hr is old and does not want the bag. So no decision yet but having pet scan and seeing another cancer doctor for second opinion. Time is of essential This is a bad dream for all

It is best to get a second opinion. I got one and the new surgeon was not as discouraging as the original surgeon was. He is going to do a biopsy ( they call it a TURBT) on the 29th of September and I’ll make a decision based on the results of that but I will not let a doctor brow beat me into a procedure that I don’t want. I was born with a bladder and would like to die with one.

Yes.. no bag

I feel the same way you do. I had stage four muscle and invasive carcinoma. I went through chemo and radiation. The cancer spread to my pelvis. I did another year of chemo and therapy. They want to remove my bladder, but I refused the surgery no, I believe my cancer is in remission. I’m still doing a 21 day cycle of.keytruda I’m waiting on a new scan, but I still have my bladder and I don’t pee in a bag which is very important to me. I wish you the best in your journey and hope you make the right decisions.

This is such a deeply personal decision that many people in similar situations wrestle with, and it's completely understandable to weigh quality of life against medical recommendations. While only the medical team can provide guidance specific to each case, many community members have shared their experiences navigating these difficult treatment crossroads and the factors they considered important. The feelings about lifestyle changes and personal priorities at this stage are something others here have discussed openly, so sharing thoughts and hearing different perspectives might be helpful as this decision is considered.