Six months ago, blood in urine started me down the road to posting today. I had already met the urology folks due to a kidney bleed while taking blood thinners (subject for another forum) so I figured it was just a still angry kidney.
First visit, quick questions and exam, then the doc looked with the scope and said, looks like a carcinoma, we will schedule some tests and go from there.
It was kind of hard to organize my thoughts on the spot. The questions to which I wanted answers formed on the drive home, all well into the wee hours of the following morning.
Web time. While scanning journal articles and well known medical institution files and learning the keywords and phrases, I found this site.
You all - administration and users - have been most helpful and generous with your open discussion on the how and why of bladder cancer. I found immediate comfort in discovering others had been where I was that first day, and the likely path (and timing) for things to come. I appreciate that I was able to browse and learn here without having to register and get involved - I was not ready to do so.
As a former firefighter paramedic I am much more comfortable helping others than being helped. Glad you are here.
Thank you all.