I am in the same boat as you...My husband was told over the phone by the Drs nurse that he had bladder cancer 3 days before Christmas... He went in for the scope in Jan and was told nothing found....He went back in April and was called a week later and said he FISH test came back positive again...we go today for another scope...after this one if he finds nothing I'm changing Drs...I'm going to take him to Moffit Clinic in Tampa and get some results that will ease hsi mind or get options on treatments.
My question is can this test find cancer in other organs than the bladder? Anyone have an answer?
Thanks-I am uncomfortable that the dr. wants to wait til August to do the hospital cystoscopy and possible turbt and/or more follow-up BCG then-why not now? My husbanc listens to the dr and doesn't want to second guess him. (Love your "name"-best ever movie)
I am not a doctor, but have had bladder tumors removed and been through the same procedures as your husband. My guess is the doctor gave him the standard NMP-22 urine test. When this was positive, and he couldn't see anything with the cystoscope, he suspected an upper unrinary tract problem and ordered the CT scan. When this was negative, he probably ordered the much more sensitive FISH test to see whether the original NMP-22 test was falsely positive. Both of these tests detect the presence of cancer cells.
A cystoscope in a hospital setting is done with a brighter illumination than one in the office, so I assume the doctor is thinking he may have missed something and really wants to check the bladder carefully.
The FISH test and office-performed NMP-22 test report the possible presence of cancer cells(or atypical cells). However, they don't tell you where a tumor(if there is one) is located. Based on a history of bladder cancer, the doctor assumes that's where it will be. I can only guess he's waiting till August to see if something starts to form, since he hasn't seen anything now.
I would just call the doctor and ask these questions, unless you think it will bother your husband.
And it was either Keyzersoce or Fred C. Dobbs.