metastatic bladder cancer

my husband's bladder cancer spread to his femur bone which has been treated with radiation. they then performed a tumor resection and urethra resection. they chose not to chemo till something else shows up buy my husband has had relentless pain ever since with a couple of emergency room visits due to urine retention. they irrigated and removed many clots. his urine flow is now good but continues to have lower back pain along with pain in the bladder area. doctors can't explain this and recently has swelling of lower abdomen, penis and one leg and foot which they also can't explain. he also sweats in that area. he is on constant pain meds and can't gain his weight back due to appetite changes with meds. we feel lost cause the docs seem puzzled. can you help? they don't know why he's having pain and/or swelling in this area.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Ask the doctors if they think that the metastatic bladder cancer spread to the back as well.  If they're watching for something else to show up, this may be it.  I'm sorry for the ER vists, that sounds painful, I treat many patients with urinary retention by putting in foley catheter and they're very uncomfortable.

Dr. Enoch Choi, MD
Palo Alto, CA

[jcampion]

I would be very interested in hearing how your husband has progressed. My husband had his bladder removed due to cancer in 2005.  In the fall of 2007, he stated having lower back pain.  We just found out two weeks ago that his cancer has moved to both his bones and his lungs.  He is in tremendous pain, and we have not yet received a prognosis.  He is starting radiation soon for the pain in the bones.

[pjv]

My husband had his bladder removed Dec 10 due to cancer we have found that it has also spread to his pelvis and right femur...We came home last week from his chemo session only to be told that they were going to cancel our insurance because he has been off work since Oct....talking about kicking you when you are down...I wish you and your husband all the best....

[Bob215]

My husband had his bladder & prostate removed in 2005 and now we recently found out it has come back in the lower back next to the spine and in the bones in his ribs. Can someone tell us about how fast this spreads. He is in a lot of pain and doctors say treatment will not help. It is stage 4.