Bladder Cancer - 5 - Chemo First Round

First round of MVAC chemotherapy. This is the 5th in a series of videos that document my experience with bladder cancer and its treatment.
In the Fall of 2015, at the age of 38, I was diagnosed with Stage 2, aggressive bladder cancer. These videos are a detailed account of my treatment and some of the helpful lessons that I learned along the way. The story is unfiltered; I don't avoid frightening, painful, or embarrassing topics.
My treatment consisted of four rounds of MVAC chemotherapy followed by a radical cystectomy and prostatectomy with an orthopedic neobladder urinary diversion. Thanks to many excellent doctors and nurses, countless unseen researchers, two extraordinary surgeons, and the support of my family and friends, Summer of 2017 marks my first year of remission.
My treatment spanned 36 weeks and is documented across several videos:
Week 01 Video 1 Symptoms
Week 03 Video 1 MedCeck consultation
Week 05 Video 1 Primary Care Physician consultation
Week 06 Video 1 Urologist consultation
Week 08 Video 1 CT scan/Cystoscopy
Week 09 Video 2 TURB biopsy
Week 11 Video 3 Biopsy Results (diagnosis)
Week 11 Video 3 Surgical consultation
Week 12 Video 3 Oncologist consultation
Week 13 Video 3 Chemo prep procedures
Week 13 Video 4 TURB resection/debulking and chemo port
Week 15 Video 5 Chemotherapy round 1 of 4
Week 17 Video 6 Chemotherapy round 2 of 4
Week 19 Video 6 Chemotherapy round 3 of 4
Week 21 Video 6 Chemotherapy round 4 of 4
Week 25 Video 7 Radical cystectomy and prostatectomy with neobladder
Week 27 Video 8 Post-op #1: Removed kidney stent and JP drain
Week 29 Video 8 Post-op #2: Removed foley and started urinating
Week 31 Video 8 Post-op #3: Removed SPT
Week 34 Video 8 Removed ureteral stent and chemo port
Week 35 Video 8 Returned to work

[@scotn9226]

You're such a help. I'm about 9 days out from my first chemo and have been worried about how the chemo experience is going to go down. Thanks again

[@kevinlang12]

Thank you for sharing your story... Your incredibly strong! I am only on video 5 now but I'm hoping your doing well in 2018.

[@hopefully553]

Kevin Lang Thank you so much about your wonderful great Teaching on your Bladder Cancer. I just found my friend has Bladder Cancer and Prostrate Cancer. Now I have some understanding about what my Friend is going through. God Bless you How is your Son taking your Cancer?

[@paulkinsella6536]

It's been a long journey for you. You have really been put through the mill. I hope everything works out for you and your family. Can't believe this has happened to you as you are very young. I suppose it teaches us that you can't take anything for granted in this life. Anyway, best of luck for the future, if anyone deserves a break, you do. Best wishes!

[@cbanda007]

Thanks for sharing your journey. My dad starts his mvac chemo this upcoming week. Hearing your stories have really helped me We’re hoping and praying for a positive outcome. Hope you are doing well. ❤️

[@silentheart4435]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@hollyhocks7360]

May I ask if you are a teacher ? Your videos are informative and interesting and you present them in a easy to understand way. I love the way you sum up at the end. Thank you for sharing best wishes from the UK

[@bladdercancerandtreatment]

Holly Hocks Thank you! I am not, but my mother was. She taught me to outline my thoughts. I wanted to make sure that I got certain points across.

[@MitzpatrickFitzsimmons]

Dude... your videos are really helping me out right now... THANK YOU! I am basically in your exact situation with treatment and surgery coming up. Starting chemo next week.. MVAC. I would love to know how you are doing after 3 years.

[@bladdercancerandtreatment]

Hopefully your first chemo treatment went well. It was a bit of a relief for me to get started in earnest on my treatment plan. At that point, all I had to do was show up and do what the doctors said. It pretty much stayed that way until the surgery, when the recovery was in my hands-and by that point there was a light at the end of the tunnel and I was motivated knowing that success was in my hands. At the point that you’re at, in chemo, I felt like I was just riding the “treatment train”. It was steaming ahead, I wasn’t in control, I could let the engineer take the wheel, and all I had to do was make sure I got on. And try to eat and get rest and keep my spirits up, of course. I wish I had taken some walks outside. Just get some fresh air and a little exercise. But I didn’t have the motivation to do it. At the time I thought I didn’t have the energy to do it, but I think I would have had more energy if I’d gotten up and moved around a bit. Best of luck to you. Please make sure you’re forthcoming and vocal to your doctors about your side effects and your mental state. I didn’t want to seem like a bother, and I generally try to be a stiff-upper-lip type of guy, but that was not the right approach in this case. Let them help you.

[@MitzpatrickFitzsimmons]

@@bladdercancerandtreatment I just finished my 2nd Round of Chemo with 2 more to go. I have actually been driving myself most of the time. The nausea was pretty bad about four days after the 1st round but now I think I've got that under control with scripts an pot helps me eat and keep a positive attitude... actually gained weight this week too. Definitely not looking forward to the surgery.. well, actually its a double edge sword because I am wanting to get through this whole ordeal and I really appreciate you doing your videos. It has helped me understand what to expect and what I am up against... and that helps my mental state as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond as well. I am very glad you are doing good.

[@kaydeno707]

@@MitzpatrickFitzsimmons hey how are you doing? Are you still dealing with chemo?