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Under 30 recurrence?
Hello all. It is my first time posting, but looking for input. My husband was diagnosed with bladder cancer when he was 27 in 2006. He finished up all his BCG TX’s and has a cysto every year with nothing alarming to note. Today we went to the Dr. for just a regular exam. She did blood work and found microscopic hematuria in his urine.
So, I know there is nothing we can do but wait until his appt. with urology, but is it rare for bladder cancer to come back after 5 years? Especially with him being so young? It is hard to find any info. on people under 30 with bladder cancer. He was last scoped about 10 months ago. The first time he had gross hematuria.
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3 Replies
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First, best of luck to your husband,and to you.
Some additional causes of hematuria can be exercise and also use of some over the counter medications that can contribute to easy bleeding (by reducing clotting abilities); these include aspirin and various nsaids such as ibuprufen. Prescription anti-clotting drugs such as warfarin (coumadin) can contribute to bleeding.
Even if no cancer is detected, your urologist may recommend having your husband go back to more frequent cystoscopies than annually. The general practice is cystoscopy every 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6 months for the next 3 years, and if all remains “all clear” (no recurrence) at the 5-year point, then the cystosopies are done annually, unless there is some reason to continue more frequently. It sounds from your post that your husband was already on the annual exam schedule, though he’s barely past the 5-year mark.
Ann
Small TA Grade 1, May-06; recur (2 tiny), same, June-08; TURBTs both times. BCG begun July-08, dosage to 1/3rd May-10, completed treatment December-11. All clear since 2008.
Mary,
As Catherine mentioned there can be multiple number of other causes such as infection of the bladder or kidney. Add stones, add sometimes even unexplained bleeding. I have 2 friends that have had that problem more than once so go figure.
All I am saying is until you have more info it is good be concerned but, try not worry (easy for me to say but, I am a survivor 3 1/2 years out). We trust that it isn’t a return but, if it is there are many people with lots of experience here that can help!
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.
Hello Mary… Welcome to our forum. I certainly understand your worry since your husband has had bladder cancer at such a young age. It’s hard not to jump to conclusions waiting to see his urologist but other things can cause microscopic blood in urine. Possible other causes are a UTI or a kidney infection for example. At any rate, it is always imperative to get it checked out thoroughly which you will be doing soon.
To answer your question about recurrence after five years, unfortunately with bladder cancer that is a possibility at any age. Some members here have had to have subsequent series of BCG treatments after a recurrence. Treatment options just depend on the pathology (stage/grade) at the time it is discovered. But, until you know from your uro, you’re not there yet.
I sincerely hope that it is just a minor infection that can be dealt with quickly. Please post any other questions you may have. There are some very knowledgeable members here that know so much more than I do about these things.
Best wishes to you both…
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
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