Hi Amy,
Most of us with this type of cancer feel that way... we go a long time being told we have an infection etc, since the tests to check for cancer are so expensive and we don't fit the profile. Being female and 47, my doctor didn't suspect cancer the first time I had lots of blood, but I had it again 18 months later, and feel very lucky that she referred me to a urologist at that time, and he scheduled me for an immediate MRI and a cysto/TURB the next week. I had a very large tumor, but it was Ta, Grade 0 - and I am going for my six month follow-up next week. I guess if you are a male and over 60 and pee blood, they figure you for cancer first thing. But not for younger females. Especially as young as you.
I was also assured that this type of cancer would not have metastasized into the blood; yet I can't help but wonder what is going on in my bladder for the last six months - did it grow back? 80% of the time, it does. Is it still non-invasive and low-grade? Sure hope so.
There is woman on this board who talks of 16 years and 37 TURBs... wow. Not something to look forward to, but she's alive, she hasn't lost her bladder, and she has a great outlook. Even my urologist said that if he was ever diagnosed with cancer, he would choose what we have over all other types. Hope you feel a little bit better, reading the stories on this board. 8-)