worried I have BC.. been suffering for months

Mark,

Your freaking out over nothing!! (Or at least not bladder cancer!) You need to go see a urologist, you can not self diagnose bladder cancer from symptoms of gross/microscopic hematuria and bladder pain. Most people diagnosed with bladder cancer have no symptoms or painless hematuria.

My gut feel is that you are having kidney stone issues, which jives with your original post stating that they found kidney stones this summer. Get back to the doctor! Throw away your urinalysis dipsticks as they are only driving you nuts (I know - I used them at home and freaked out myself as well).

There is no reason to believe you have bladder cancer. See a doctor.

After hearing Alyssa's story I'd have to say that it makes me very anxious and worried. She is the same age and had the same symptoms! My bladder has been in a lot of pain the past two months.. sometimes the pain is fairly dull. How did your bladder cancer symptoms start? Did it start with pain and blood? I really think this is bladder cancer although it may be linked to my kidney stones or whatever.. I'm not sure even though I never felt a kidney stone pass down to my bladder which I would normally feal. What do you guys think?

Mark,

I'd bet it isn't bladder cancer at your age as well.  Does sound like you have gross and microscopic hematuria, which in your case is more likely a kidney stone problem.

The number of potential causes for hematuria are many. Happily, most of the causes do not represent serious or life threatening disease. Some of the common, less serious reasons for hematuria include kidney stones and urinary tract infections. The most common reason for hematuria in a man 50 years of age or older is benign prostate enlargement. A small percentage of the population normally has microscopic hemuturia with no apparent cause. Voiding problems, trauma, and excessive exercise ("jogger's hematuria") may also cause blood in the urine.

More serious reasons for hematuria include bladder tumors, kidney tumors, and kidney obstruction. It is reasons like these which make it necessary to properly and thoroughly evaluate all hematuria.

www.duj.com/hematuria.html

However, if you can't be convinced otherwise, get a cystoscopy (a fiber-optic probe snaked up through your penis into your bladder so the urologist can look around - sounds worse than it is!).

Hi Alyssa,

does the BC in your comment stand for Bill Clinton? 'smoked but never inhalled'

More to the point - I incline to your opinion that the problems described could well be due to crystaline stones in the kidney(s) - this could also lead to irritant in the bladder and repeated low grade infections.

He may find an increase to 8 pints of fluid (not coffee, tea or spirits) and regular consumption on an hourly basis might sluice out the system.

I'd love a $10 Bill for every time I've heard drink plenty in urology wards and departments. It is sound advice, the kidneys are for filtering fluid not ploughing treacle!

Hi,

I am no medic but I have had so many Flexis over the last 7 years I am beginning to feel like my bladder is an end of the pier peep show! I'm sure they are running re runs of what the butler saw in there!

Last Christmas eve I scared myself by peeing a high grade claret! Last time that happenned it was kidney cancer and a radical nephrectomy in September 2001 _ I remember having the op. on 5th. then whilst recovering having about 6 sisters and a specialist all sitting on my bed watching 9/11 on my TV! I thought I'd had a rough time till I watched that!

Anyway back to last Christmas - I was convinced this was THE death sentence and the other kidney was blown!

I started developing kidney pain etc.

OK cut a long story short - I went in had a flexi and they thought they could see another BC - booked in for the op. it wasn't even BC it was a crystaline stone in the bladder that had worn/irritated a capillary causing the bleed.

The pain went immediately and I can only assume it was more psycho sematic than real.

Make sure you get all the checks you can there is no way you should have these problems - don't let them fob you off. Keep going until they give you clear written explanations as to why you have these symptoms. In the interim try 2 things - drink a glass of cranberry juice (natures little plumber) morning and evening and drink 2 pints of plain water a day ensuring a daily intake of never less than 6 pints of fluid - 8 is better.

Fluid throughpt does NOT strain the kidneys lack of fluid does! Also constant flushing with 6-8pints of fluid a day can help many urological problems including some infections.

Good luck.

Hi

I am 26 , never smoked, BC diagnosed in May. I am willing to bet that it is just the kidney issues causing the blood in the urine. I also had multiple ultrasounds that were normal while I had the tumor. I would ask for a cytoscopy to clear your mind. I am prfof that a young age can not rule out bladder cancer.

Alyssa