Hello, my great grandfather was diagnosed with bladder cancer about a year ago, and due to his old age, he decided not to go about getting any treatment beyond surgery to try to remove the mass (which wasn't successful). Now he is having bloody/mucusy discharge when he urinates. He is in constant pain, which is exacerbated by trying to urinate, despite high doses of Percocet. What stage of bladder cancer does this sound like? I know that it is at least stage III, as that's what he was originally diagnosed with. Thank you so much for any help in this matter!

If his cancer has been untreated than it may have spred or metastasized. If it has than techinically he's a stage IV. It doesn't really matter since he is not getting treatment. The stages are just ways for doctors to know what type of treatment protocols to offer patients.

I do hope though that your grandfather is under Palliative or hospice care? He really should not be suffering at all and needs to return to his doctor so that they can make him comfortable. Palliative care refers to treatment they will use to make your grandfather more comfortable . . it is not curative treatment, but if they can help him medically feel better and improve his quality of life they will. Hospice care is for the final stages of the cancer. Too, they will make him more comfortable.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm

Palliative Care
http://www.growthhouse.org/palliat.html

WHO definiton of Palliative Care
http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/

Palliative Care Directory
http://dmoz.org/Health/Medicine/Medical_Specialties/Palliative_Care/