I wasn't angry when I was first diagnosed. My response was to do a lot of research, but I was already at least aware of bladder cancer, and that it was very treatable. (My dad had had bladder when he was in his late 60s, only had one recurrence, and died from lung cancer at age 89.) It may have been easier for me at first because I had a small, single low-grade tumor. When I did get mad, however, was when I had a recurrence after two years of being all clear. I was so looking forward to being able to drop down to cystoscopies every six months instead of every three. When my urologist looked up from the scope and said "I see 2 tiny tumors," my first reaction was not worry or fear -- it was ANGER. Because of the recurrence, he recommended I start BCG, so I was back to doing more research, resigned myself to another two years of cystoscopies every three months, and have now been doing the BCG for about 15 months. Come June, if I remain all clear I can go to the 6-month check-up schedule, but this time I'm trying not being as optimistic as I was last time. (I guess I'd describe myself generally as a "realistic optimist.")
Ann