Home Forums All Categories Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Airport security

  • Posted by mmc on May 22, 2010 at 3:33 am

    So, after traveling just about every week for a year and half with a catheter bag and some straight caths in my carry on bag, I had my first experience going to the “special” inspection.

    Seems the guy watching the scanner saw something he was unsure of. So they pull my bag and we go off to the inspection area and I ask what they are looking for so I can direct them to where it is.

    The TSA guy says, it looks like a urinary catheter bag. I said, “It looks like that becaues that’s exactly what it is.” I pointed him to the front pocket of the wheely bag so he didn’t need to keep diggin though the inside looking for some secret pocket.

    He pulls it out along with pretty much everything else in my bag and put it all in a bin to run back through the xray.

    He did the little explosive swab as well on the bag.

    I told him it was the first time in a year and half that anyone has wanted to see that and that I travel twice a week every week. He said it looks similar to military cordite. OK….then why did he say it looks like urinary catheter???

    Oh well…I know the topic came up here a while back and I just wanted to let folks know. I’m not the kind of guy that gets embarrased easily and I’d actually have been fine carrying the bag out in plain view just to embarass the security guy. :)

    I basically just said, I’ve been carrying it since I had bladder cancer a couple of years ago. If the guy hadn’t been really polite, I probably would have said in a loud voice that there are condom catheters in there too if he wants to check those out as well.

    Mainly I just thought “For crying out loud!”

    Mike


    Age 54
    10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
    9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
    10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
    2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
    9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
    1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
    2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system

    My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
    LoriK replied 14 years, 7 months ago 6 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • LoriK's avatar

    LoriK

    Member
    June 29, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    Wearing an under wire bra brings about the same security concerns as a terrorist threat. Before 9/11 I could waltz right thru, then after, I get stopped and patted down. Not my favorite type of feel up, if you know what I mean. The dectector has since been set lower so I no longer set off the machine and that makes my life less touch and more go.


    Age: 52
    DX on 2.18.10
    T1, G3
  • new-diag-7's avatar

    new-diag-7

    Member
    May 28, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Hi Mike..
    I can appreciate their desire to keep us all safe but at the same token, I don’t appreciate anyone putting their hands on my supplies. I had only one issue so far of someone wanting to handle my vial of insulin. Since the flip cap was off and just rubber stopper was in, I did not take kindly to them removing the clearly displayed vial from my plastic bag. Contamination! On the other hand…they allow people to go straight through who I would choose to stop and strip search if in a security position. Go figure.
    Sometimes, you don’t know whether to say thank you…or want to slap them for invading our privacy! LOL
    Cheryl

  • gkline's avatar

    gkline

    Member
    May 24, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    I guess being a TSA guy is a Boring job. They seem to jump at the chance to go through the routine when my hip joint shows up on the scan. EVERY time I fly I go through the routine. So far I have had very polite fellows who try and be quick about it.

    I am surprised they haven’t found a way to quickly pass people through with fake body parts yet! :laugh: :laugh:


    Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
    Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.

    08/08/08…RC neo bladder
    09/09/09…New Hip
    =
    New Man! [/size]

  • sailorman's avatar

    sailorman

    Member
    May 24, 2010 at 12:57 am

    I have a catheter that goes through my suprapubic and have had that sicne my R/C in July of 08. I have travelled many many times with it and for the past 6 months or so, I’ve had the tube clamped with a metal clip (during the day). finally, abuot a month ago, I alerted the metal detector (not sure why as the clip is small) so they put me through the whole thing. I told them what the metal in front of my pants was and they went abck and forth for about 10 minutes before they allowed me to show them (I can pull it out above the waistline of I need to).

    They were embarrassed too but in the end, I gotta go on travel and thats what it takes sometimes.

  • dukel's avatar

    dukel

    Member
    May 22, 2010 at 5:47 am

    Mike,
    I know where you’re coming from. I have a metal rod in my right
    leg from bone cancer. Security was not that bad with it before
    9/11. Right after 9/11 it all changed, they often acted angry,
    even tho i would tell them ahead of time. Still get pulled to the side for inspections. I don,t let it irritate me anymore. The
    ones that are nice about it, i thank, the others i ignore.
    Duke

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