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Blood spot question
My mother has bladder cancer. She had a turbt a few years ago, and has been having BCG maintenance treatments every since. Everything has been going great. But today she saw a spot of blood on her underwear. She actually has a scheduled appointment on Thursday with her urologist for her usual check. But she is going to call tomorrow to see if she can get an appointment tomorrow instead. This has us worried that the BC has come back. Anyone else experience something like this?
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14 Replies
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I am jumping right in here for the hematuria (blood in urine) and ureter thickening threads. My wife, a nurse of 42+ years, some 35 years ago had hematuria off and on for a few weeks. We did a retro pyelogram among other tests (looks up the ureters into the kidneys) and questions about her kidneys and ureters. We NEVER did solve the why? It quit a few weeks later. I personally know a couple of other people with similar stories.
Some educated guesses were a stone being passed nicking the system. Possibly something else out of the norm as an anomaly. Some people are long-distance runners that jostle their urinary tract causing mild bleeding. Some NEVER solve the riddle….it is simply part of their makeup.
Do the tests with competent MD’s, if one needs more peace of mind get a second opinion for verification of results and DX. If nothing is found go on with your life. My wife did and she is still here.
DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.
[list=1][*]Sounds like so far so good. Please keep us updated.
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Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society
My mom’s urine test results were posted on the Chart website. This is what it said:
– SPECIMEN IS ADEQUATE FOR INTERPRETATION.
– NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANT CELLS.
– REACTIVE UROTHELIAL CELLS.DESCRIPTION:
Cellularity is moderate. Architecture includes single cells. Individual cells show reactive and degenerative changes. Red blood cells and acute inflammation are present.
To me, this part is a good thing – NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANT CELLS.
I know, still get anxious though….Her doctor is good but very blunt. When she asked him about it, he said the will send it to be checked for cancer. So naturally she is anxious for the results. Plus, the office will be setting up her annual ct scan so there is that anxiety as well.
on the plus side the March and September cysto were good. Which to me is a positive.
You and your mom have “been there/done that” previously. My incliniation is that this is the same thing as before and has nothing to do with bladder cancer. It is not uncommon for a “small speck of blood” to be present in a urine sample.
Let us know what the urologist says!!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Yesterday, my mother had a routine follow up cysto appointment – doctor said everything looks good.
Her next cysto appointment is March 2022.
Her last BCG treatment was December 2020.The urine test they do during the routine follow up, showed a speck of blood. They are sending it to be checked. Naturally I am now thinking the worst. Can that speck be nothing?
Good news!! That is a much more likely explanation!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
She went to her urologist this morning. They did a urine test and told her she has an infection. She was given antibiotics. Hopefully, that is why she saw a spot of blood. Thursday is her regular follow up.
Not spotting, other than that one time, since yesterday, but today she said she feels pressure. She is not sure if that is bladder pressure or anxiety. She called her doctor but he is not in the office today. She is going in tomorrow, just to talk. And her routine follow up is still on Thursday.
she just doesn’t have a good feeling about this because she never had spotting a month after any of her BCG treatments. and now this pressure feeling. she is already anxious because of Covid..
Thank you for your responses.
IF the cancer returned, that wouldn’t likely be the way in which it would manifest itself. She should be OK!!
I do understand why she worries…been there, done that!!~
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Irritation can last over a month? I hope that is what it is, the documentation she has doesn’t say that. She was supposed to have her maintenance BCG during the Covid shutdown but she instead had them in June. So she is worried that the BC came back becaz of that delay.
BCG a month later has a high probability of still causing irritation. As Sara Anne said another 4 days will make almost no difference on what is seen or follow up action.
DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.
Her last BCG treatment was June 19th though. Would there still be irritation one month later?
Your mom would be fine to wait until Thursday to consult with her urologist. The presence of blood could be from many things, including irritation from the BCG. Often a cause is never found. I can understand that you and she are worried, and it should be discussed with her doctor, but Thursday is OK.
Please let us know what they say.
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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