Blood in urine, former smoker

6 years 3 months ago #54488 by Donnasue
Replied by Donnasue on topic Blood in urine, former smoker
Thank you Sara Anne. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to answer my questions and offer comfort. It means a lot to me especially right now.
So over the last few nights I have been paying closer attention to how my body feels and I'm noticing little things like maybe I do use the bathroom more often than most people. I thought that was just because I drink ( too much) coffee. I go a few times at night too.
Today the doctor's office will reopen and I will call to see what they say. I suppose I will research good urologists as well and make that appointment.

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6 years 3 months ago #54487 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Blood in urine, former smoker
I do understand your concerns Donna Sue. When I was diagnosed I was sure that I was going to die. Then I really researched bladder cancer, had long talks with my doctors and realized that there was a lot of hope for the future Right now all you can do is wait for the pathology report. After your first urological exam the urologist may be able to give you an idea of what you might be facing but it won’t be sure until that path report is back .

If your diagnosis is bladder cancer and if you are like most of us you will lose a day or so of work when you have the TURB and a day or so here and there maybe even once a week occasionally depending on your treatment options.

You need to remember when reading about people whose bladder cancer was discovered because of blood in the urine is that these are people who ended up with bladder cancer I don’t know of any websites for people who just had urinary blood and then were diagnosed with a UTI or something else that was not cancer You are reading about a self selected group of people

I realize that nothing I say can completely alleviate your worries but in reality you don’t have any idea what the diagnosis may be We will keep our fingers crossed for you

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
The following user(s) said Thank You: Donnasue

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6 years 3 months ago #54486 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Blood in urine, former smoker
I do understand your concerns Donna Sue. When I was diagnosed I was sure that I was going to die. Then I really researched bladder cancer, had long talks with my doctors and realized that there was a lot of hope for the future Right now all you can do is wait for the pathology report. After your first urological exam the urologist may be able to give you an idea of what you might be facing but it won’t be sure until that path report is back .

If your diagnosis is bladder cancer and if you are like most of us you will lose a day or so of work when you have the TURB and a day or so here and there maybe even once a week occasionally depending on your treatment options.

You need to remember when reading about people whose bladder cancer was discovered because of blood in the urine is that these are people who ended up with bladder cancer I don’t know of any websites for people who just had urinary blood and then were diagnosed with a UTI or something else that was not cancer You are reading about a self selected group of people

I realize that nothing I say can completely alleviate your worries but in reality you don’t have any idea what the diagnosis may be We will keep our fingers crossed for you

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
The following user(s) said Thank You: Donnasue

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6 years 3 months ago #54485 by Donnasue
Replied by Donnasue on topic Blood in urine, former smoker
It is shocking to me the amount of people I am reading that were diagnosed after a bout of blood in the urine just like me. Like there are not any stories of it turning out to be something else. This is exactly why I'm scared.
I don't k ow what to prepare for....time missed from work? We can't really afford for me to not work. And I'm not quite full time.e anyway I'm only 33 hours a week. And my daughter has always had a fear of losing me because I lost my mom to colon cancer when i was 28. What do i say?

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6 years 3 months ago #54483 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Blood in urine, former smoker
The biopsy (technical term “TURB or transurethral resection of the bladder”) is usually done as an outpatient under general anesthesia. Most patients go home the same day. No incision...the doc goes in through the urethra with a small camera....just as when he does a cystoscopy exam. The tissue removed is sent to the pathology lab for analysis and it usually takes about a week for the results to come back.

Bladder cancer does often return. But not always. I was diagnosed almost 9 years ago and so far have not had a recurrence. And also please remember that people who have problems tend to post and the many who do not have issues disappear.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
The following user(s) said Thank You: Donnasue

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6 years 3 months ago #54482 by Donnasue
Replied by Donnasue on topic Blood in urine, former smoker
Thank you both. That's exactly what the doctor said that the chances of this being cancer are low. And yet here we are so ma y people it has happened to.
So to do the biopsy I have to go to the hospital right? And is there an incision made? And it takes weeks to learn the results?
Even if bladder cancer is treatable, it always comes back worse right?

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