Hi just had a blood clot they found blood in unrine said about cancer had a CT scan normal now got to have Canara up my bladder to check so what do people think
About 11 months ago I peed blood. I immediately saw my GP and was referred to urology under the two week cancer protocol.
This wasn't my first two week referral, and while they're always scary, the stats are good, since most people who get referred don't have cancer.
At the clinic, I saw a consultant and discussed my sympoms. She said the usual steps are CT scan of the urinary tract, a flexible cystoscopy, and a check of the prostate. However, my prostate was taken out 10 years ago so that wasn't on the agenda. She did say, however, that they do these tests, and in 8 out of 10 cases, they find nothing serious. This confirmed what I knew about the stats for emergency referrals.
In the next week I had the CT scan and the cystoscopy. The CT scan found some problem with the blood vessels for one kidney. That was referred to a vascular team and eventually they decided it was probably nothing, but they'll double check with another CT in 12 months. The cystoscopy did find a small cancer (damn, I was one of the 2 in 10) but the doctor doing it was most reassuring and said it was low risk and easily treated - which made me somewhat less scared.
The usual first line treatment for bladder cancer is an operation called a TURBT, and I had one of these a few weeks later. It's not a major operation and you're in and out in one day. It was painful immediately after surgery, but the next day I just needed some cocodamol painkillers, and by the day after I was fully recovered. I had a follow up cystoscopy 3-4 months later and it was clear. I have another cystoscopy in July and fingers crossed that's clear, too.
So, whilst I was unlucky that my blood trace turned out to be cancer, by acting immediately on it, it was detected while still very small and with a bit of luck I won't need further treatment, but if I do, then at least the hospital are on the case.
This is my second brush with cancer (after having prostate cancer 10 years ago) and I'm still very much alive and kicking, and good for many more years - coronavirus permitting :)
