Another PET scan down!  I’ve fasted for the last six hours, only drinking water, and haven’t consumed carbs for 24 hours. An hour before the scan, I was injected with radioactive sugar called fluorodeoxyglucose-18 which will highlight cancer in my body. Since I was first diagnosed with bladder cancer in January 2022, my scans have been normal. 

I typically have PET scans every six months, however, this one was not planned. Here’s why. I saw my urologist two weeks prior who saw something suspicious while scoping my bladder in the office. He took me to surgery the following week and scraped a 2 cm tumor from my bladder which was malignant. My cancer has come back, to the same spot, Stage 2. The good news is that it has remained Stage 2, and I won’t need chemo. I will, however, face bladder removal/reconstruction surgery (neobladder surgery) on September 20 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. This is the same hospital I was in last summer. 

What is neobladder surgery? It’s a procedure where the surgeon will remove my bladder and construct a new one using my small intestine. Pretty incredible, right? This will allow me to void normally and fits my lifestyle the best. I can still be active without the need to wear a bag.

As you can imagine, this is ALOT to process and comprehend the lifestyle change that will come with it. I have enjoyed being in remission over the last 18 months and have been able to build my strength for what’s to come. My medical team feels I am strong enough now and will do well which is reassuring.

Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as our family faces another milestone as we begin a new chapter. We all experienced the miracle of my strength and healing last year and are confident, after this surgery, I will be completely cancer free!

♥️Kim