Hi all; let me put out the disclaimer that I have NOT been diagnosed with bladder cancer.
In brief: I am a 48 year old woman, no smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke here. My father had prostate cancer that Mom says a "small piece of it got onto your father's bladder." This was 17 years ago and he had about 30 radiation treatments. I asked Dad about it recently and he knew basically nothing, no staging, grading, etc. Only kept emphasizing three times that it was bladder NECK cancer.
I had gross hematuria on 11/9/09 for about 12-18 hours. My primary dr. had me leave a specimen the next day which came back as positive for red blood cells and leukocytes. NO other symptoms at all! I was given a 5 day Rx for Cipro.
I thought (self-diagnosed?) I had a rectocele, as I have trouble with constipation. He did an internal and said I might have a cystocele, referred me for an ultrasound and to see a urologist.
Uro dr. said U/S only showed a cyst on right ovary. (Note: had a hysterectomy in '99, kept the ovaries.)
Uro dr. said specimen I gave to him showed trace (1+) of blood, basically nothing. But he wanted me to have a CT urogram and a cystoscopy.
My questions: he called me and said the CT urogram showed kidneys and ureters were fine. The bladder shows something on the left side wall, as if it had collapsed in on itself, that there are "nooks and crannies" there. He said it's as if it isn't fully distended as a bladder should be.
I asked if he would do a biopsy, he said he couldn't say until he got in there. That cystoscopy is this coming Tuesday.
I know I should NOT self-diagnose. Reading online shows me that this topic is broad and as diverse as the folks who have bladders.
I am just wondering how a bladder could "collapse in on itself". That term doesn't come up in my reading. I also see more about distended bladders than bladders that do NOT distend.
I also am trying to read about the lining of a bladder...doesn't everything have "nooks and crannies"? Or is this a very plain and ordinary way for him to say that it's bumpy and not normal?
Thank you for your time. I do appreciate any help.
Sincerely,
Suzanne