Yes Steve, I was originally diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma
(of the bladder), the "in situ" form that tends to spread out over the
bladder lining.  Following several BCG treatments, bladder biopsies
were consistently negative, but I continued to show trace evidence of
T-cell carcinoma & cell abnormalities when urine cytologies were done.
My PSA was running about 4 to 5 during this time.

At my last bladder exam (cystoscopy) the urologist said my bladder
looked "excellent," and could see no evidence of problems, however my
PSA had gone to about 6, so he did a needle biopsy of the prostate
that came back positive (not for prostate cancer but for bladder
cancer).  So there I was with a good bladder, but a prostate permeated
with bladder cancer.  His recommendation was to remove both bladder
and prostate, since the probability of recurrence would be high for
the bladder in any case.

The surgery went OK, but left me with a foot-long scar from pubic bone
to about 5" above the navel.  Lymph nodes were found negative, and
tissue sample tests showed that the problem was confined to the
capsule of the prostate.  I lost about 1-1/2" of urethra in the
process, since they had to keep cutting off samples until they got to
the point where it was free of cancer cells.

So in answer to your question, yes--the cancer had spread out over the
bladder lining and affected the urethra and prostate (this had been
going on for about 10 years).  Subsequent (post-op) examination of the
urethra samples showed suspicious cells, so I may be in for radiation
after this heals up--however my urologist says there is little in the
way of history to go on, not many cases like mine.  Clearly radiation
involving the neobladder doesn't sound like a good idea, and at this
point am thinking that my best option might have been to go with an
ilial diversion (external bag), although the idea of internal
retention seemed a much better choice at the time.

It is now 5 weeks post-op, and things are dribbling rather badly,
going through a lot of pads, washcloths and anything else that can be
called upon to soak things up.  Am OK at night (get up every 2 hours),
but mucous plugs occur often because of the intestinal material used
to construct the neobladder.  

Am considering the "Afex Incontinence System" to allow me to at least
get out of the house and do things in the interim--any ideas about
this rig?

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

-MrP