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Really scared
Hi
I just joined today. I am 47 yr old male. I have no symptoms of BC, no blood in urine, back pain etc.. I went hospital on may 14, for some stomach pain which might be due to gall stones. However, during investigation the CT scan and ultrasound showed a lesion in my bladder with 10mm diameter and 12 mm long. I have my cystoscopy on Wednesday. I am so frightened, I have two young boys at home. The urologist told me not to worry until there is something to worry about. This is easier said than done, I don’t have that personality. I am worried all the time, wake up in middle of night and feel such a deep sadness. My question…are there anyone with experiences of bladder lesions/mass that are not cancerous? Are the chances of it being benign slim? Everyone tells me to think positive that it’s a benign polyp or other benign mass, considering i have no symptoms but my research indicates that most of these protusions are cancerous. Second question. Is 10mm diameter considered large. ?Thank you
Marco -
21 Replies
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Hello Marco I had five years ago stage two grade three muscle invasive Bladder cancer .My tumor was 3.7 centimeters.Two Urologist Surgeons said i had to have my Bladder and Prostate I said no so I had the Tumor removed and then went to an oncologist who specialized in Bladder ,Prostate and Kidney Cancer.He gave me 5 weeks of Maximum dose Chemo and the a two week break with another two weeks of deadly dose Chemo during that same time period and after I did thirty seven days of radiation treatments.I was given a death date of October 2015 but I am still alive.My fingers and toes are partially numb and I have really loud noise in my head all the time.I still work full time as I am very strong physically.I am 58 years old and try not to think about when the cancer is coming back as I am told it will some day.Just try to understand that you have to be stubborn and fight to keep strong.If you get chemo no matter how sick you feel really stay away from being in bed.Just be the worst customer your cancer ever had and keep going forward.
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You know NOTHING until the TURB is done with the pathology report.
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.
Hi everyone
I received my ultrasound report. It states I have a soft tissue mass with a cystic area. Anyone familar with this terminology…just another way to say bladder tumor? I have my TURBT on Tuesday and was curious the meaning of this.Thanks
Marco
Thanks Sara for quick response and your energy to answering everyones questions. The waiting is painful.
Marco, the answer to most of your questions (and you know this) is “it depends.” To be a little more specific, a “mushroom-like” tumor is a papillary tumor. These can be either low grade or high grade and this requires pathological examination of the tumor to determine. High grade tumors have cells with a very abnormal-looking appearance and a large number of which are dividing. Low grade tumors have cells that are more “normal” in appearance and only small numbers of weird and dividing cells. The size of the tumor is probably more likely to be related to when it was discovered rather than grade. Don’t think patient’s age has much to do with it nor does the presence of obvious symptoms, which sometimes are due to the location of the tumor in the bladder.
CIS (carcinoma in situ) is another manifestation of malignant transitional cells from the bladder lining. It shows up as a sort of rash on the bladder surface, and because it is not tumor-like it is sometimes missed on an initial TURB (one reason a second TURB is often done.) It can present alone or along with the papillary form. CIS is always high grade.
You really WON’T know what you are facing until you have the TURB and get the path report back. THEN you can face whatever it is with some knowledge.
I know that the waiting is difficult, but try not to worry about all the what-ifs and the odds and the possibilities. Most of them do not apply to you!!!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Question: are the following true statements?
1) mushroom like tumors with a stem are generally papillary tumors Ta? Not CIS which are flat in appearance. Not T1 or higher.
2) smaller tumors and solitary tumors have a greater chance of being low grade.
3) smaller tumors with a stem have a greater chance of being non-muscle invasive
4) younger patients (less than 50 yrs old) with papillary tumor Ta have a greater chance of being low grade
5) patients with no symptoms (no blood urine or frequent urination, etcc) have a greater chance of being low grade.
6) mushroom type tumors in bladder are rarely benignI know every cancer is different for every person, however just trying to better understand the path and risks.
Marco
The best way to look at things is you are 80% to resolving or going to a plan to attack. Either way you are another day toward getting to the end of wondering and one day closer to getting stronger and more effective in life!
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.
Hi everyone
So I just got back from my first cystoscopy. Doctor said I have a polypoid tumor. My next step is to get it removed and have pathology done to determine if it’s benign or malignant. He wouldn’t comment on if it was cancerous based on the look and size of it…even though i tried to ask him the same question 3 different ways. So I will wait. I’m concerned since most are cancerous but hopeful since I know someone who has something similar and it was benign.
Hanging in there,
Marco
Marco…Good luck tomorrow! I had mine last Friday. I was a ball of nerves all week but it turned out good for me ( no recurrance…yet) You will do fine. Stay positive!
Uptight… Just want to say good luck to you on Friday! Its the beginning to your recovery!
As to the “uncomfortable setting” for the cystoscopy, it’s going to become an ongoing part of your life at least in the near term. As to pain or discomfort, I am a 65 years old, 5’8″, 150 lb. weakling that was scared that I was going to shake the fillings out of my teeth, BUT IT DIDN’T HAPPEN……It is an odd process to partake in but I am very much looking forward to a cystoscopy at a later time that they announce “everything looks good”.
After they remove my tumor on Friday, if all goes well, I have heard that they will complete a additional cystoscopy again after several weeks of healing. I actually plan to video my cystoscopy in all its glory (all modesty put aside) and post it on youtube or other social media to dispel the anxiety that men in general seem to perceive from the procedure. My video would be an absurd way of becoming a film star….lol……But if it helps one soul with reducing their anxiety it will have been worth it.
Tomorrow evening at this time you will be home, it will be history, and then you can actually feel you are on the way to at least knowing your true situation. I wish you God’s blessing, the best of luck, and please keep posting to help support the next person just starting their journey just like we are.
I wonder if they will create better posting names than “Uptight” or “Really Scared”???
Thank you everyone for your replies. For some reason I’m less anxious today. I have my cystoscopy tomorrow. I can’t wait to understand what I am dealing with. I met with my family doctor today, the results from two weeks ago showed microscopic blood in urine which she said could be or could not be from bladder lesion (I’m not calling it a tumor yet). Doctor tried to reassure me that IF it is cancer it has been caught early.
I’m hanging in there.
Marco
My double “woops,” wpi!! Just goes to show you that you shouldn’t read/answer posts using a small screen smart phone. I do know the difference between what you have and kidney cancer. I just assumed that you had renal carcinoma (what my dad had…and he lived many healthy years after with one kidney.)
Sorry
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Uptight and Marco,
That point where all is still a possibility is terrifying we have all been there. Until you know you personal diagnosis blanket research is also terrifying and not productive. I firmly believe of all I went trough the worst was the not knowing. Don’t research anything that isn’t your next step right now. Be kind to your self if you can do somethings you enjoy try to keep your mind busy. Don’t waste time fighting demons who probably will never arrive. I know easier said than done but at least be kind to yourselves. I will be looking for the next installment on your journeys.
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
wpl,
I live in MA and medical cannabis is legal here and I am an advocate. It would be an interesting thread on our forum but we don’t want to take over Marco’s and Uptights thread here. If you start one I will make a point to contribute.
Welcome to our forum.
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
Hi,
Quick reply to Sara.anne’s comment which I believe was directed at my reply (not Uptight) because she’s wrong on two points.
The inner wall of the kidney is part of the bladder, not the kidney. I don’t usually talk numbers or grades as it gets you in the wrong mindset but I do have bladder cancer …
https://www.cancer.gov/types/kidney/patient/transitional-cell-treatment-pdq
Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the renal pelvis and ureter.
The renal pelvis is the top part of the ureter. The ureter is a long tube that connects the kidney to the bladder.Only going to the trouble because it will be very important, if it does end up being cancer, you vet all the info and advice you get. It’s all probably going to be very well intentioned … won’t always be accurate.
Same goes for the CBD and THC comment. There have been no trials in the US due to marijuana being a Class 1 drug … same as meth and heroin. Not true overseas and there are studies from Europe and Asia showing results in shrinking tumors (CBD) and killing certain types of cancer cells (THC). In Poland there was a trial of intratumoral injections of THC in brain tumors that have shown results in shrinking tumors that can not be operated on. More importantly both act to trigger the immune system and having a healthy and active immune system is key should you get a cancer diagnosis. If not for fighting the cancer itself for surviving chemo or radiation if it’s required.
Check this site
https://integrativeoncology-essentials.com/brian-lawenda-md/Not saying to buy his program but read what integrative oncology is all about. Sara.anne sounds very well intentioned but unfortunately is not citing facts …
Good luck and keep fingers crossed it’s nothing more than a scare!
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