Hello Joyce... I am so sorry you are going through this scary time. Those first few days waiting... just waiting... to find out is so tough. First, I just want to ask you to take a deep breath, blow it out, and repeat. You may not have bladder cancer. Those symptoms can also be caused by a bad UTI/kidney infection. The internet will drive us crazy, but I was guilty of doing the very same thing on my smartphone while I was still in my doctor's office while she was calling to get me into the urologist.
If, and I emphasize "if", it is bladder cancer, you should also know it is very treatable, especially if caught early. There are many of us here who can attest to that. But it is too soon to go there...
To answer your questions, the urologist may do a cystoscopy in his office where a scope is inserted into the bladder to see what is going on inside. I know that sounds horrible if you've never had it done, but it is relatively painless and may be mildly uncomfortable. It is the best and most definitive test to know exactly what the inside of the bladder lining looks like and if there's anything there that should not be.
The uro may do an initial consult and schedule another appointment for follow up. One thing I would like you to know is that often urologist may dismiss women's complaints as "just a UTI" and give you antibiotics and say come back in six weeks/months. While that may be appropriate in some cases, if you feel there is something else going on after you meet with him/her, insist on a cystoscopy. Not all urologists are experts in bladder cancer (yes, that is a shocking statistic), so you have to be your own best advocate.
We will be here for you along the way to answer any questions. When is your appointment? I am not personally familiar with urologists or hospitals in your area, but some of our members may be. Best wishes on your doctor visit... fingers crossed that you will not become a permanent member here!
