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woried about BC
Hello everyone. I am new here and not quite sure or comfortable with writing. I am 57 years old, post menopause going on 4-5 years now. I had a colonoscopy the beginning of January and was told all was fine besides internal and external hemorrhoids which I knew I had and was aware of. A week after that, I ended up with burning, urgency, frequency, pain. Went to an urgent care. They told me there was no blood seen, but that I did have an UTI. I was put on an antibiotic. Two months later, I felt I was getting another UTI. Same symptoms but this time, I noticed when I wiped, there was a slight small red spot on the toilet paper. So also a little drop in the toilet bowl. my urine did not appear discolored. I went to the Dr. She ran a quick office check and said it did show blood in the urine but actually no UTI. She did start me on another antibiotic because she felt all my symptoms, the blood in the urine were indicative of another UTI, but she would send it off for C&S. She called me back a few days later and said the C&S came back negative…no UTI???? I am going back this week and having a urinalysis, C&S recheck to see if in fact the blood still shows and what all the other values are on the urinalysis. My mom did also have a history of bladder CA, in situ, I believe because way back then, she never ever had anything other than what was called a chemo flush I remember??? So my question to all, how concerning this time around now that I did in fact see a spot in the toilet, on toilet paper, my Dr. said my office quick check did show blood, but no UTI, should I be concerned with bladder cancer. I know what my steps should probably be if my recheck does in fact show blood again, but what if it is negative??? I am really concerned, confused, and would love to hear from others who may have experienced anything similar. Thanks all.
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9 Replies
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Multiple testing would be of concern to anyone, trying to find the cause. Having a urologist check the bladder is a good decision. If he does the cysto, it’s quite simple, but annoying. My 1st visit was scheduled after severe bleeding. By the time I got there, the blood was only microscopic, not visible. Did turn out to be BC. Not a welcome diagnosis, but at least you know. Multiple TURBTS followed by BCG got me to 12 months being cancer free. Will continue scopes and hope it stays that way. Good luck on your testings.
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As everyone else has said, you are doing the right thing seeing a URO. Obviously, you want to find out what is causing the blood to appear and cystoscope can answer most of your questions about the bladder. It is possible they may schedule a CT scan if the bladder is clear to check the rest of the urinary tract, could be kidney stones etc. As has been posted also, sometimes we know people that pass blood with no known reason.
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.
Well I guess you can see how nervous I am!! I mis-spoke. I said up above that my urine has not changed color…it is still red!!! Guess that is where my mind is. It is NOT red. It is yellow. I went for my UA C&S today, have appt. with my medical Dr. on Thursday and scheduled with an Urologist a week from Thursday…first week in April.
Guess you can tell I am nervous. I mis spoke saying my urine remains the same…red! It is not. It is a yellow always so far. I have appt with my Dr this Thursday for my UA C&S then
Urologist the following Thursday.
CDG,
You have done the absolute right thing by making an appointment with a urologist. God bless you,
Anita
Anita
Forum Moderator
Caregiver
Thank you Sara Anne. Will update. Have a nice day.
You are doing absolutely the right thing! I had several “UTI’s”…my gynecologist told me that if this happens more then 2 or 3 times, I needed to see a urologist. So, the next time it hit, I did. No UTI!! But also, no blood EVER in my urine! And, it did turn out to be bladder cancer, caught early, treated, and I am now in my 6th year clear!!
As you have been told, there ARE other things that can cause blood in the urine. Since I am not a physician, I won’t try to produce a list, but it doesn’t have to be bladder cancer. BUT if it is, you want an early diagnosis!
Please try not to worry too much (difficult, I know) until you do have a diagnosis. And let us know what happens,
wishing you the best of luck
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Thanks Anne for the reply. Will keep fingers crossed for your follow up cysto. It is the nerves and the what if’s that take over in our minds, I know. Yes, I am glad to have found this forum and it is always helpful to talk to someone who knows…been there…done that as the saying goes. My urine does not appear to change color….it is still red, BUT when I wipe seems to be a slight red on the toilet paper…only once I saw a small spot in the toilet but never where the water is red or the urine is red. Do you know if in bladder cancer…is the urine more times than not a different color…being red or the water appearing red? I am scheduled to see my family physician on Thursday and had a follow urinalysis today, but I made a proactive decision this morning and scheduled with an Urologist for next week…Do you also know what besides red blood cells in a urinalysis that would lean a physician towards cancer and further testing? Thanks for the input.
First let me state although blood in the urine can be BC it can be from benign conditions as well. One of the signs I had were blood and clots when urinating, after putting off for more than six months I finally went for a transvaginal ulta sound the results I was told was a cyst on my ovary. That would need to be watched but if it was continuing I would need to do another test. Putting my blinders on not wanting to hear anything negative I waited six more months. The results then came back that I had a tumor in my , made an appointment with uroligist who did a cystoscope, no clue he was going to do that test. He advised you have a cancerous tumor that was the non-invasive type and would need to have a TURBT. Results after surgery TA Grade 2 which he described as a nusiance type of cancer that had a tendency to recur. Began my 6 weeks of BCG treatments and will get a a follow up cystoscope three weeks later.
Happy to have found this forum my doctor although he is good, not really someone that sits with you to explain treatment or results.
Honestly is was worse not knowing so I believe you will feel relieved just knowing next steps.Good Luck!!
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