Hi there Edith, welcome to the forum, but sorry for why you're here. I can relate to your frustration around your bladder issue. I had a similar experience when I first started to have blood in my urine. I got the run-around too and it wasn't until I said, enough is enough, listen to what I'm telling you. I need to see a urologist for this issue. Still, my request fell on deaf ears until finally, I told a doctor who was filling in for my family doctor, I insist on an urgent referral to a urologist, which she did. I was told at that apt. after having a cystoscopy,  that I indeed did have bladder cancer that is aggressive. Had I not insisted, I likely would have lost my bladder, or worse, lost my life at that point. That was almost 4 years ago. I still have my bladder, but of course, I have had several surgeries, treatments, etc. since then. I'm not saying that you have bladder cancer at this point, but you should be screened for it just the same. A lot of doctors are of the opinion that only men get bladder cancer and that is not the case. I'm glad you will be screened and whatever the outcome, the sooner its' defined the sooner you can be treated. Certainly, it could be any one of a number of things, but if it is cancer, they need to get right on to it.

If you want to ask me anything about it, feel free. I was blown out of the water when I was first diagnosed as I had never heard tell of bladder cancer. I also didn't know of anyone who had been diagnosed with it, so it was a lonely journey for me at that point. I've since discovered that here in Canada, we have a forum for bladder cancer that has lots of information on it, as well as a chat forum where we can learn from other people with bladder cancer, what their experience has been. If your issue is not bladder cancer, (and I hope for you that it isn't ) then I certainly hope they will figure out what the issue is and get on to treating you.

After you go through your tests next week, come back on here and let me know how things turn out for you. If you would rather private message me, that would be fine also. Good luck with your tests.

Lorraine  

Hi Edith, my symptoms prior to diagnosis, were bleeding of course, and a frequency to urinate, as well as a really different odour to my urine. Other than that, I had no pain, fever, etc. but the doctor said it was likely that the bleeding was coming from my uterus, so I had to go for an ultrasound. Well then when that came back as nothing wrong there, they still argued that we should just keep an eye on things for awhile. Meanwhile, I'm still bleeding a week later. Then, I went back (of course we never see the same doctor when going to the on-call) and this time I insisted that I be referred to a urologist, which she did. I think it took like 3 weeks to get in. I had a cystoscopy and I was told on the spot it was cancer. About a month after that, I had a TURBT and a biopsy after which I was told it was an aggressive cancer, but had not penetrated the lining of my bladder as yet. Of course, at this point, I'm well entrenched into the treatment plan and I've been doing it ever since.

I'll be interested in hearing about your journey with this issue. Be sure to let me know how it goes. After you find out what your outcome is, you'll know where you go from there. Take care and good luck.

Lorraine   

Hi Lorraine, sorry to but in on the post, but ive just had a cystoscopy/TURBT and my consultant found a tumour the size of a satsuma, he said it goes from my bladder to my cervix, he said he removed some of it but not all, when i woke from the aneasthetic and he told me i asked him if he thinks its benign and he shook his head and said no, i also asked him if he thinks its treatable which he said lets just wait for results and scans and stuff but in the long term probably looking at total bladder removal. i know obviously i have to wait for pathology results to come back to say if it is definateyl bladder cancer. im having ct scan with contrast on friday and mri in few weeks after my bladder has healed from the TURBT. so i am wondering do doctors know its cancer before getting the results back from pathology do they have an idea by what they see in the bladder. as he has already said its cancer. and also im thinking it doesnt sound good if he says it goes from my bladder to my cervix, I am in a lot of pain, pelvic and lower back pain also going into my groin and top of my leg. obviously im hoping and praying hes wrong when pathology comes back. any info you have would be greatly appreciated. x

I'm going for cystoscopey tomorrow and I'm scared ,does it hurt and is it embarrassing.I hope you don't mind me asking .

Hi Silverglitters and welcome to the forum.

I hope you hear back from Babycakes77 and other members in this discussion soon but whilst you wait I just wanted to wish you all the best for today and share some information on Cystoscopy to check for cancer from our website.

I hope this helps but if you'd like to have a quick chat with one of our nurses, they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Steph  thank you so much for getting back to me .Thanks for the helping me .Iam as much worried about the embarrassment as the actual procedure.Have you had it done did it hurt .As far as I know she hasn't got back to me and now need to pop in bath and get ready to go .S 

Hi Silver glitters, 

I have had this done. It is a quick and painless procedure... the doctors/surgeons are used to carrying out this procedure day after day and will not make you feel embarrassed at all. A little like when you have a smear. Good luck for today. 

Thank you I have been and now I'm back and thank goodness  they found nothing .what you said was right it was painless and he made me feel so at ease and it was over so quick .Thankyou for replying. S 

Thank you I have been and now I'm back and thank goodness  they found nothing .what you said was right it was painless and he made me feel so at ease and it was over so quick .Thankyou for replying. S