-
new to forum- searching for info and support
Hi, am 54 yr old woman with MS and chronic major depressive order. I do my best not to let both things keep me down! :P
I have recently had urological issues- frequent urges to urinate; hesitancy and trouble voiding; pelvic and back pain. Recently, for the second time this year, I found both blood and tissue in my urine for about a 10-14 day span. This second time, I saw my GP who took a urine sample, ruled out a bladder infection, and referred me to a urologist. It took more than a month to get to see the urologist. I saw her today, very kind person. She did a pelvic exam, took a urine sample, and asked me many questions. Urine sample showed microscopic blood in the urine.I am scheduled for blood work-up and CT scan to be completed next Monday…not bad.
Because the CT scan is notorious unreliability in detecting all bladder masses, however, my urologist is also wanting to perform a bladder scope (forgot the technical term.) I know blood in the urine can be indicative of many things, only one of which is possible bladder cancers. But I am wanting to know, please, does the pervasive inclusion of tissue in my urine each time I void when I am finding blood on the toilet paper cause concern for greater likelihood of bladder cancer?I do know that tissue can sometimes be a sign of renal necrosis, but the doctor seemed to think that was not likely in my case. My frustration lies in the fact that I will have to wait until 10/30 to have the bladder scope performed. As I saw mentioned in so many others’ posts, the waiting is obnoxious as hell. Having had to go through years of “waiting” and testing to finally get my MS diagnosis, I find my resistance to this beaurocratic delay challenges my commitment to keeping a positive attitude and healthy perspective.
Thank you to both the adminstrators and the participants of this forum. Your presence here is valuable to many, many people.
-
7 Replies
-
Good Luck on the 30th
We’ll be here to Cheer you on!Always hoping for a Happy end to cancer
George
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]
Thank you for the welcome. I will post again after the 30th.
This is a great forum and my thanks go out to all of you.
Soph
Sophie,
Welcome. Let us know how things go on the 30th.
Anita
Anita
Forum Moderator
Caregiver
The doctor will look at the bladder, and take urine samples for cytology. However, I doubt very much that he will take tissue samples. OUCH. This is usually done under anesthesia, for good reason!
After the cystoscopy, the doctor will have a much better idea of what the problems might be and will then make recommendations for further examination or treatment.
In some cases urine samples can give a lot of pertinent information, but they can also be misleading and are used as part of a more complete workup.You are doing GREAT, girl. Keep it up!!!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Dear Sarah Ann and Catherine,
Thamk you both for your warm, helpful replies.
I will be having the cytoscopy 10/30. Besides the visual review, the doctor will be able to take both tissue and urine biopsy samples, is this right?
And yes, this new challenge has brought my fighting spirit front and center. It will be pointless for me to focus on frustration and dwell in depression, regardless what may be going on with my bladder. I am a formiddable opponent to whatever had come my way in the past, so I am heartened by your encouragements.
I will keep you posted. And best of luck to all.
We can never predict how our bladders are going to react to “insults” such as a tumor or irritation! They seem to have a mind of their own. For example, I NEVER had any blood, microscopic or otherwise. And yet I had both papillary and CIS tumors. My symptoms were more like a bladder infection. A BAD one.
On October 30 are you having cystoscopy (an exam in the doctor’s office where she places a small camera in the bladder and looks) or a TURB (transurethral resection of the bladder) where you are under general anesthesia and the urologist takes samples of the bladder for biopsy?
The latter is the only definitive was to diagnose bladder cancer, although the urologist can get an idea from cystoscopy.Wishing you lots of luck. There are many of us here you have been where you are now. As for the depression, you may find that having something like this to worry about and fight may help you to overcome this for a while.
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Hello and welcome, Sophiegirl… I am so sorry about your health challenges and the recent added worry of bladder issues. I am happy you have seen a urologist and have a cystoscopy scheduled, although not as quickly as you would like. See if they keep a cancellation list and put your name on it in case a time slot comes up sooner that you could take.
Blood in the urine doesn’t always mean bladder cancer. I don’t know about the tissue you are seeing when you void, and the doctors won’t either until all the test results are back. I am assuming they will do a pelvic/abdominal CT scan which will take a good look at your kidneys, as well as the bladder/pelvic area. I’m having my third annual CT scan on Monday, too.
The best way of knowing what is going on inside your bladder is the cystoscopy. It allows your uro to examine the lining of your bladder and to look for irritations and any suspicious areas or growths if there are any. Many of us here get them every 3/6/12 months, depending on where we are in our time since diagnosis and treatment. It can be a bit uncomfortable (and embarrassing the first time) but generally not painful, at least for women.
Waiting is definitely difficult when you know something is going on in your body but the docs can’t find it, as in the case of your MS. I was almost a year getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and I began to think maybe it WAS all in my head.
Try to keep your spirits up and if you need a little help with that, hang out here with us. We will help you as much as we can with your questions as they come up along the way.
Again, welcome to the forum.
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TNSign In to reply.
