Bladder Cancer

by **fifosm** on Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:21 am

Hi, I am a 35 year old female. About two months ago, I observed some blood particles in my urine, in the form of little eggs. These particles lasted for a few days and then stopped. At their peak, there were lots of particles -- maybe tens of them. Although it surprised me, I assumed it was an irregularity due to my period. Sometimes I have delays in my period, and then it starts with bloody particles in my urine. However, the particles that come with my period are usually larger and unshaped. These were smaller and egg-shaped. Also, the time of this incident wasn’t close to my period. I didn’t feel any pain, and I didn’t have any difficulty urinating.

Now, after about two months, I observed blood in my urine again. This time, there were only one or two blood particles, and they were bigger than the last incident. I could see fresh liquid blood on my toilet paper. This time, I felt pain, and urinating stopped in the middle without my control. I went to a doctor, who tested my urine, diagnosed the problem as a Urinary Tract Infection and prescribed Sulphameth / Trimethoprim 800/160 tablets for three days. I told him about the incident two months ago, but he said that could also be an infection. My urination problem disappeared after the first day of antibiotics, and I am not seeing blood in my urine now.

Now, I learned that painless blood in the urine is one of the symptoms of cancer. Also, the egg-shape of the blood particles and its volume makes me concerned. I made an appointment with a urologist five days from now, but I am already stressed out. I would like to know which tests are reliable for diagnosing cancer, so I can resolve the uncertainty as soon as possible. Thank you very much in advance…

by **archrock** on Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:54 am

when I had blood in my urine, my urologist sent me for a C-scan and then, based on the result did a cystoscopy which revealed my tumor, and his belief that it was bladder cancer. I had surgery immediately where it was removed and the pathology report confirmed it was cancer. You should have a C-scan which should reveal what is in your bladder (and most of the rest of your abdomen).
Good Luck

by **fifosm** on Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:29 pm

Thanks archrock for your response. Would you please tell me why they did a cystoscopy after the CT-Scan? Wasn't CT-Scan enough to detect the tumor? Or was Cystoscopy for biopsy? Thanks very much...

by **archrock** on Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:41 pm

The C-scan showed a "filling" of a certain size and location. He told me that he thought it could be a blood clot and wanted to look inside to be certain, and that was standard procedure. When he did the cystoscopy I asked him if it was a clot and he told me, no, it looks like a tumor, undoubtably malignant. I was in shock but have adjusted to the routine, and pretty much accept that Bladder CA will be with me for a long time. Although I despise a cathetor, he has switched to a smaller one for my BCG treatments (what they do if you have a "simple" tumor), so I am not in as much pain as before.

Good Luck, better to know and to get it out as soon as possible. It is a manageable cancer if you get it in time.

by **fifosm** on Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:53 pm

Thanks archrock for the detailed information. It's very kind of you and is really helping me. Would you please describe how the blood was in your urine? Was it like mine, disjoing egg-shape particles or was it liquid blood? How long did it last and how it stopped? I know that the symptoms can vary in different people but I just want to know more. Thanks a lot...

by **archrock** on Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:34 pm

No droplets, just a funny brownish color the first time and a more burnt red color the second time. It was quite scary and not ignorable, even though it too me two times to react. My dad is fighting this disease, and at 91 they are not treating it, but I knew immediately what blood in urine can mean.

by **fifosm** on Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:07 pm

Thank you so much for your care and the time you spent on responding to my posts. I really appreciate it. I will definitely use this information when working with my doctor.

by **justwaiting5** on Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:51 am

I am 36 years old as well and have been told that I have haad reaccuring uti since july and i mean back to back. I have visially seen blood in my urine and even wheni dont have symptoms my urine screen comes back with blood found every time. I have also had pyloneniphritis in my kidneys and c reative protein in my urine. I saw a urologist and i guess she mentioned her suspision of bladder cancer and said she will be scheduling more test. What do you guys think of this and what next help please i am scared. Oh i do have sever urinary retentio and now have to self cath three times a day. Thanks

by **fifosm** on Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:18 am

Hi, I started this thread because I was scared and I wanted to aquire more knowledge about diagnosing bladder/kidney cancer in order to communicate with my urologist and ask my doctor to do the required tests in case he wanted to skip or defer them. Archrock's answers to my questions were very helpful. In fact my doctor did exactly what archrock said without me asking him. Beyond what you have read above, I can add that you need to calm down and be peaceful inside. Being scared is not going to help you at all. You still don't know if you have cancer. In case you have it, there is a lot of work that can be done. Don't be afraid and think positive. I know it is hard but TRY to push back the negative thoughts. Make sure that you have a good urologist and follow her/his advice.