23 June 2009
Dear
all
Luna
had 'major surgery' this afternoon to remove the remains of her
tumour.
As
expected, the surgeons removed part of her bladder (about 20%), but they also
elected to remove her urethra. Whilst we knew there was always a risk that this
could happen, we thought it was very low after the recent surgical
investigation and biopsy results. However, when they opened up her bladder
today they saw that the urethra was very inflamed and had been pulled back into
the bladder as the tumour had shrunk with the chemotherapy (suggesting that the
tumour did indeed extend into the urethra). Although the surgeons could not be
sure that the urethra was affected, they did not want to take the risk and
elected to remove it.
It
is impossible to reconstruct a urethra, so Luna will be in nappies for the next
three years with no control over her bladder. After this period, once the
doctors are certain that Luna is clear of any cancer, the surgeons will
reconstruct her bladder and insert an access point below her bikini line for
her to insert a small tube when she feels the need to empty her bladder. It
sounds complicated, but we understand that it is not and is infact fairly
common. She will of course then have control over her bladder.
The
vagina wall also appeared very inflamed today, but the surgeons are more
confident that this is purely inflammation and not cancerous. In any case, they
have taken more biopsies and we will have to wait for the results (expected in
under a week) before knowing for sure. If this area also turns out to be
affected, then we would have to consider further surgery or possibly
radiotherapy. We really hope that this will not be necessary as it would very
likely have serious side effects.
Not
really a very easy day for any of us, but given where we started from in March
we still think she is doing extremely well.
Luna
is likely to be in hospital for one to two weeks, but is already smiling.
Chemotherapy
will then re-start in a couple of weeks for another five sessions.
Monica,
David, Luna & Leo
