My sister is 55 years old, overweight (hey, so am I) but has never been a smoker and a light drinker. No drugs.
Last week she went for her annual Gynecologist visit and the OB/Gyn felt a lump on her bladder. She (the doctor) sent my sister for an MRI which showed a growth 3 cm by 5 cm by something.
She went to the urologist today. She definitely has a tumor and it is a rare tumor. (Don’t know the name of it). It is on the bottom of the bladder and is 1/3rd to 1/2th the size of the bladder itself. It is growing INSIDE the bladder (not outside of it).
The doctor said it is smooth and symmetrical -- like a "ball" sitting inside her bladder. He said it is very rare, but given the shape it may not be cancer. She doesn’t feel pain when he was pushing on her. The urologist said it is mucousy though large… No fingers as in typical cancerous tumors. No blood in urine and no pain.
Possible scenarios:
1. Removal w/ biopsy – benign. Check periodically for recurrence.
2. Removal w/ biopsy – cancer – but not in lining. 6 weekly catheter injections of meds into bladder usually cures problem.
3. Removal w/ biopsy – cancer – also in lining. Bladder must be removed.
Monday she has to go in for a cystoscopy so he can view the tumor from inside. Then he will determine what type of surgery she needs to have. The tumor has to be removed. They’ll biopsy the tumor and scrape the bladder walls (it doesn’t look invasive) and run a biopsy to see if it is cancer. If it is cancer she’ll have to have the bladder removed and undergo some kind of chemo which they inject through the urethra.
I'm not looking for a diagnosis here -- but I've read that 90% of bladder tumors are cancerous. I love my sister very much and would really appreciate your thoughts, information and prayers. Thanks.