Unexpected symptom -- blood in urine

JoanneNH
JoanneNH Member Posts: 115
in Kidney Cancer #1

Background:  Stage II renal cell cancer diagnosis in September of 2013.  Right nephrectomy.  All scans have been NED.

I had my every-six-month CT scan just the end of August.  CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis and a chest x-ray.  Everything NED.   On Thursday morning, my morning urine looked a bit pink in the toilet.  I did a dipstick of the urine which came back positive for blood.  So I tested my second urine of the day and it also was positive.   All subsequent urines tested negative.   I called my urologic nurse and she said to come in for a urinalysis and urine culture, which I did the next morning.   They did the urine culture and it came back negative.  They neglected to do a  urinalysis even though it was ordered.

Got a message to call the nurse which I did.  She said my urologist wants to do a cytoscopy.

So after a month of celebration of being NED, now I am scared again.  Scared of the cytoscopy and of what it might show.  I am thinking it is pretty unusual to have kidney cancer and bladder cancer.  I've had no other symptoms.

Just looking for a bit of support as I am now a bit scared.

Comments

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #2
    Hoping the best for you

    It could be lots of things besides those really bad things. And it might just go away!

    Annoying, I know. Let them look and try and be patient and not rush to the worse possible thinking. Staying in the "who knows" place is difficult, but it's what we all have to try and get used to. In reality, we don't know until we know.

    Have you seen a nephrologist? Other kidney issues can cause blood in urine. I see one regularly.

    I'm sure your specialist will figure it out soon.

    Hope the best for you,

    Todd

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #3
    todd121 said:

    Hoping the best for you

    It could be lots of things besides those really bad things. And it might just go away!

    Annoying, I know. Let them look and try and be patient and not rush to the worse possible thinking. Staying in the "who knows" place is difficult, but it's what we all have to try and get used to. In reality, we don't know until we know.

    Have you seen a nephrologist? Other kidney issues can cause blood in urine. I see one regularly.

    I'm sure your specialist will figure it out soon.

    Hope the best for you,

    Todd

    Also hoping the best but

    ER or Doc for you RIGHT NOW! Every bit of paper or advice  youve been given says so. I know you want to be told its perfectly normal and that it might go away. But you know the truth seek medical attentionNOW!

  • jason.2835
    jason.2835 Member Posts: 337 Member
    #4
    Be on the safe side

    JoanneNH,

    There are many possible reason for blood in the urine.  Did you happen to perform any strenuous activities in the day previously?  

    HOWEVER, it's still worrisome considering our history, and should be checked out as soon as possible.  I would echo Footstomper's sentiment (albeit in a more gentle way LOL) to seek medical attention in the next day or two if it persists.  It may, in fact, go away without another problem.  

    - Jay

  • JoanneNH
    JoanneNH Member Posts: 115
    #5
    jason.2835 said:

    Be on the safe side

    JoanneNH,

    There are many possible reason for blood in the urine.  Did you happen to perform any strenuous activities in the day previously?  

    HOWEVER, it's still worrisome considering our history, and should be checked out as soon as possible.  I would echo Footstomper's sentiment (albeit in a more gentle way LOL) to seek medical attention in the next day or two if it persists.  It may, in fact, go away without another problem.  

    - Jay

    It has not persisted.  Just

    It has not persisted.  Just that one time on Wednesday.  I talked to the urology nurse late Friday after she had the urine culture result.  There was no indication from her that it is an emergency that has to be addressed right NOW.  So I am asking for an appointment to come in and talk about the cystoscopy.  I think I will go ahead with it.  She did speak to my urologic oncologist who is the one who wants it.  

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #6
    JoanneNH said:

    It has not persisted.  Just

    It has not persisted.  Just that one time on Wednesday.  I talked to the urology nurse late Friday after she had the urine culture result.  There was no indication from her that it is an emergency that has to be addressed right NOW.  So I am asking for an appointment to come in and talk about the cystoscopy.  I think I will go ahead with it.  She did speak to my urologic oncologist who is the one who wants it.  

    Not my favorite test

    Joanne,

     

    Hopefully nothing. If this guy can survive that procedure, you should be able to as well.

     

    Icemantoo

  • SFBob
    SFBob Member Posts: 33
    #7
    JoanneNH said:

    It has not persisted.  Just

    It has not persisted.  Just that one time on Wednesday.  I talked to the urology nurse late Friday after she had the urine culture result.  There was no indication from her that it is an emergency that has to be addressed right NOW.  So I am asking for an appointment to come in and talk about the cystoscopy.  I think I will go ahead with it.  She did speak to my urologic oncologist who is the one who wants it.  

    Probably Nothing Major

    For what it's worth, I've had blood-in-urine a few times. A couple were diagnosed as "runner's hematuria", one turned out to be a kidney stone (in the same kidney that years later grew a tumor and had to be removed--probably coincidence but who knows), one turned out to be for "unknown reasons". My understanding is that there are lots of possible reasons for blood-in-urine. Some of them have to be dealt with, but worst case is usually just something that needs to be treated.

    I had a friend who, after noticing blood-in-urine got diagnosed with bladder cancer at the same time my kidney cancer was found. Sounds scary, but since the cancer wasn't very advanced, it was just a minor procedure to scrape it from the bladder wall. I would have been happy to trade cancers with him. :)

    Since you've been having CT Scans that would have picked up any kind of well-developed bladder cancer, my guess is that your worst-case possibility is a small bladder cancer that's very treatable. And again, that's worst case.

    Re the cystoscopy, by the way--I've been through a few now. The idea of a scope going up there (especially if you're male) gives one pause if you haven't been through it before--but it turns out to really be no big deal.

    Good luck!

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #8
    SFBob said:

    Probably Nothing Major

    For what it's worth, I've had blood-in-urine a few times. A couple were diagnosed as "runner's hematuria", one turned out to be a kidney stone (in the same kidney that years later grew a tumor and had to be removed--probably coincidence but who knows), one turned out to be for "unknown reasons". My understanding is that there are lots of possible reasons for blood-in-urine. Some of them have to be dealt with, but worst case is usually just something that needs to be treated.

    I had a friend who, after noticing blood-in-urine got diagnosed with bladder cancer at the same time my kidney cancer was found. Sounds scary, but since the cancer wasn't very advanced, it was just a minor procedure to scrape it from the bladder wall. I would have been happy to trade cancers with him. :)

    Since you've been having CT Scans that would have picked up any kind of well-developed bladder cancer, my guess is that your worst-case possibility is a small bladder cancer that's very treatable. And again, that's worst case.

    Re the cystoscopy, by the way--I've been through a few now. The idea of a scope going up there (especially if you're male) gives one pause if you haven't been through it before--but it turns out to really be no big deal.

    Good luck!

    While I'm no physician I

    While I'm no physician I agree that most likely your August CT scan would have picked up bladder cancer. Everyone says how sensitive these scans are so even if it was tiny I imagine it would have picked it up. Cystoscope is a good idea just to put your mind to rest. And if worse comes to worst and it's bladder cancer most likely it's in the very early stage. My girlfriend was diagnosed and they scraped it out as said above. She just goes for cystoscopes every six months now. Hopefully it's nothing.

  • nancybuck
    nancybuck Member Posts: 117
    #9
    Blood in Urine

    I just had an in office cystoscopy and it was not painful at all. Hoping you find that to be true for you. However, I don't think it is very pleasant for a man.

  • JoanneNH
    JoanneNH Member Posts: 115
    #10
    SFBob said:

    Probably Nothing Major

    For what it's worth, I've had blood-in-urine a few times. A couple were diagnosed as "runner's hematuria", one turned out to be a kidney stone (in the same kidney that years later grew a tumor and had to be removed--probably coincidence but who knows), one turned out to be for "unknown reasons". My understanding is that there are lots of possible reasons for blood-in-urine. Some of them have to be dealt with, but worst case is usually just something that needs to be treated.

    I had a friend who, after noticing blood-in-urine got diagnosed with bladder cancer at the same time my kidney cancer was found. Sounds scary, but since the cancer wasn't very advanced, it was just a minor procedure to scrape it from the bladder wall. I would have been happy to trade cancers with him. :)

    Since you've been having CT Scans that would have picked up any kind of well-developed bladder cancer, my guess is that your worst-case possibility is a small bladder cancer that's very treatable. And again, that's worst case.

    Re the cystoscopy, by the way--I've been through a few now. The idea of a scope going up there (especially if you're male) gives one pause if you haven't been through it before--but it turns out to really be no big deal.

    Good luck!

    "runner's hematuria" is

    "runner's hematuria" is interesting.  On Monday, I had a Holter monitor put on.  That evening I did a "mini" stress test on my treadmill, where I walked and jogged.  Then Tuesday a.m., i did the same--alternating walking and jogging.  Jogging is something i don't do and I was really pounding on the treadmill.  Wednesday a.m. is when I noticed the positive blood urine dipstick.  But I am leaning towards having the cystoscopy anyway. 

     

     

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #11
    nancybuck said:

    Blood in Urine

    I just had an in office cystoscopy and it was not painful at all. Hoping you find that to be true for you. However, I don't think it is very pleasant for a man.

    Like with so many things

    I dont think its as bad as it looks

  • mrou50
    mrou50 Member Posts: 389 Member
    #12
    Stay Strong

    I am sure it will be fine hang in there and let the docs help you, stay positive and strong.

     

    Mark

  • SFBob
    SFBob Member Posts: 33
    #13
    JoanneNH said:

    "runner's hematuria" is

    "runner's hematuria" is interesting.  On Monday, I had a Holter monitor put on.  That evening I did a "mini" stress test on my treadmill, where I walked and jogged.  Then Tuesday a.m., i did the same--alternating walking and jogging.  Jogging is something i don't do and I was really pounding on the treadmill.  Wednesday a.m. is when I noticed the positive blood urine dipstick.  But I am leaning towards having the cystoscopy anyway. 

     

     

    Yes - Do the Cystoscopy

    Mostly because there's no downside to it. It sounds like a big deal (especially when you're a man :) ), but in reality it's quick and painless (both times I've felt some mild irritation, but no pain).

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
    #14
    mrou50 said:

    Stay Strong

    I am sure it will be fine hang in there and let the docs help you, stay positive and strong.

     

    Mark

    Sorry for your new worries.

    Sorry for your new worries. You are doing all the right things. Hoping for the best results.

    Take care and keep us posted!

    Hugs

    Jojo

  • JoanneNH
    JoanneNH Member Posts: 115
    #15
    Update:   I had my cystoscopy

    Update:   I had my cystoscopy this afternoon.   My bladder is fine and healthy.  The only SLIGHTLY uncomfortable part was when the nurse injected the lidocaine into my urethra, but I think it was mostly pressure and not pain.  Never really felt the insertion of the cystoscope.  I even watched the procedure on the monitor.   My doctor does think it probably was due to the strenuous exercise I was doing while on the Holter monitor.  The most uncomfortable part is now I have a bit of burning on urination (like a UTI) but that should go away within 24 hours.

     

     

  • foroughsh
    foroughsh Member Posts: 779 Member
    #16
    JoanneNH said:

    Update:   I had my cystoscopy

    Update:   I had my cystoscopy this afternoon.   My bladder is fine and healthy.  The only SLIGHTLY uncomfortable part was when the nurse injected the lidocaine into my urethra, but I think it was mostly pressure and not pain.  Never really felt the insertion of the cystoscope.  I even watched the procedure on the monitor.   My doctor does think it probably was due to the strenuous exercise I was doing while on the Holter monitor.  The most uncomfortable part is now I have a bit of burning on urination (like a UTI) but that should go away within 24 hours.

     

     

    I'm happy it was easy and

    I'm happy it was easy and you're healthy and happy.

    Forough

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
    #17
    foroughsh said:

    I'm happy it was easy and

    I'm happy it was easy and you're healthy and happy.

    Forough

    Glad to hear the cystoscope

    Glad to hear the cystoscope turned out to be ok.

  • suzymcdo
    suzymcdo Member Posts: 20
    #18
    JoanneNH said:

    Update:   I had my cystoscopy

    Update:   I had my cystoscopy this afternoon.   My bladder is fine and healthy.  The only SLIGHTLY uncomfortable part was when the nurse injected the lidocaine into my urethra, but I think it was mostly pressure and not pain.  Never really felt the insertion of the cystoscope.  I even watched the procedure on the monitor.   My doctor does think it probably was due to the strenuous exercise I was doing while on the Holter monitor.  The most uncomfortable part is now I have a bit of burning on urination (like a UTI) but that should go away within 24 hours.

     

     

    That is good news!

    That is good news!

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