Henry with intermediate-risk NMIBC finds follow-up cystoscopies burdensome. What now?
Henry, 70 years old, used to work as a creative director in a chocolate factory. Once, he designed chocolates that looked like broccoli. Too bad, they were not favoured by the clients…
He was initially diagnosed with a solitary small Ta low-grade (LG) tumour. He received 1 immediate chemotherapy instillation after transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT).
Follow-up cystoscopy after 6 months shows a 1 cm papillary tumour and TURBT is performed. Visual appearance suggests a low grade and he received again 1 immediate chemotherapy instillation. The pathology report confirms urothelial cancer pTa LG (muscle in specimen, no LVI).
He received mitomycin C instillations for 1 year. In the meantime, no recurrences were detected during follow-up.
His follow-up visit at 12 months post-TURBT:
• Cystoscopy: negative
• Cytology: negative
The patient indicated he finds multiple cystoscopies burdensome.