too young for bladder cancer

2

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  • loveslife_24
    loveslife_24 Member Posts: 8
    #22
    pregnant while having treatment.
    hi sorry to hear about ur troubles. i am 24yrs old and have recently been told that i have abnormal cells on my bladder which are in the first stages of bladder cancer. i was given the b.c.g treatment for 6 weeks but was then told afterwards that this had not worked. i then got referred to a specialist oncologist in liecester (U.K). he told me that he wanted me to have a c.t scan and a m.r.i scan. i have just found out im 5 weeks pregnant and i was not allowed to have my scan done. now my specialist wants to see me but he has asked me to take my mum along... i cant help thinking hes gonna say that its not safe for me to continue with the pregnancy but ive seen that you had treatment while pregnant. were the doctors ok about you continuing with treatment while pregnant and did u have any problems. i dont know what the specialist is gonna say but do u think i should ask for a second opinion?? i hope to get in touch soon. and i hope evrything is ok for you. x
  • loveslife_24
    loveslife_24 Member Posts: 8
    #23
    loveslife_24 said:

    pregnant while having treatment.
    hi sorry to hear about ur troubles. i am 24yrs old and have recently been told that i have abnormal cells on my bladder which are in the first stages of bladder cancer. i was given the b.c.g treatment for 6 weeks but was then told afterwards that this had not worked. i then got referred to a specialist oncologist in liecester (U.K). he told me that he wanted me to have a c.t scan and a m.r.i scan. i have just found out im 5 weeks pregnant and i was not allowed to have my scan done. now my specialist wants to see me but he has asked me to take my mum along... i cant help thinking hes gonna say that its not safe for me to continue with the pregnancy but ive seen that you had treatment while pregnant. were the doctors ok about you continuing with treatment while pregnant and did u have any problems. i dont know what the specialist is gonna say but do u think i should ask for a second opinion?? i hope to get in touch soon. and i hope evrything is ok for you. x

    sorry im new to this, didnt
    sorry im new to this, didnt mean to print my reply that many times.
  • Skid Row Tom
    Skid Row Tom Member Posts: 125
    #24
    loveslife_24 said:

    sorry im new to this, didnt
    sorry im new to this, didnt mean to print my reply that many times.

    Second opinion
    You can't go wrong with a second opinion. With a decision this big, I think a second opinion is a MUST. If you make a major decision like this without a second opinion, you will always be second-guessing yourself. Good luck!
  • peteslsspr
    peteslsspr Member Posts: 1
    #25
    Military said:

    The University of Southern California has an ongoing study to track a specific gene that has potential for mutating. If this is the case, it may explain why those that have never smoked have bladder cancer. You should seek help from medical centers that have extensive experience in these matters. There has been numerous advances in this field of medicine and at your age your future should look bright.

    newbie - why positive FISH tests and no C in bladder & kidneys
    Hello,

    Going in tomorrow to have stents removed from procedure to look into both kidneys for cancer. 4 positive FISH tests and two bladder biopsies which were negative...took fish from each kidney last time which both were positive...so went in and looked into both and saw nothing. Could they just not see something? I don't get it.

    Also - how come they use novacaine for a small cavity but when they go in to remove 2 stents on the other side of my bladder to each kidney, they just expect me to hand tough? Does it take too much time to administer something that minimizes what I am sure to be big time pain? 54 year old...former smoker but quit decades ago...

    thanks for the help
  • irishrosecork
    irishrosecork Member Posts: 1
    #26
    Skid Row Tom said:

    Second opinion
    You can't go wrong with a second opinion. With a decision this big, I think a second opinion is a MUST. If you make a major decision like this without a second opinion, you will always be second-guessing yourself. Good luck!

    bladder cancer
    Hi and thanks for everyone posting their stories. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the age of 25. Im now 43 and have been cancer free since however, I'm woundering if anyone has found what the recurrence rate is in young people diagnosed at an early age. My mum died last week from ovarian cancer, my eldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and no family history of cancer except us girls. My sisters cancer markers were negative for being hereditary (spelling) and my gyn said the type of ovarian cancer my mum had is not hereditary. So why the post? Im scared not only for myself but my 3 children and 2 grandchildren. I do get cysto's regularly and the only treatment I recieved was the tumore removed from the bladder. No chemo was needed. Thanks for any feedback.
  • SHarrington1
    SHarrington1 Member Posts: 1
    #27
    too young for bladder cancer
    I too was diagnosed when I was 18 years old. Its all i could think about at the time and I was so scared. they removed a golf ball sized tumor out of my bladder months ago. however, after my last biopsy they found no cancer in my bladder whatsoever. I am still starting the BKG treatments in april as a precautionary thing. not excited in the least.
  • n_daly
    n_daly Member Posts: 2
    #28
    too young for bladder cancer
    I was diagnosed when I was 30. I am scared of getting it again. It has only been 4 months since I had found out about it. I lossed alot of weight and I am still having trouble getting it back. I am so scared that I will get it again and die.
  • kathrynjenkins
    kathrynjenkins Member Posts: 9 Member
    #29
    SHarrington1 said:

    too young for bladder cancer
    I too was diagnosed when I was 18 years old. Its all i could think about at the time and I was so scared. they removed a golf ball sized tumor out of my bladder months ago. however, after my last biopsy they found no cancer in my bladder whatsoever. I am still starting the BKG treatments in april as a precautionary thing. not excited in the least.

    fellow survivor
    Hi,
    I'm Kathy, age 59, and I was dx in 2002 with baseball size tumor that was a sage 1 TCC and was removed by surgery. I was soon given BCG treatemts for 6 wks. which I tolerated very well. I had a small flare-up in 2004 and when the Dr. removed it he treated me with mytomycin and luckily I have not had any problems with my bladder ca since. However, I was diagnosed with Stage 0 melanoma on my left arm in 2008. It was a mole about the size of a bb and black. I had 20 stitches to remove it but have been assured that it has nothing to do with my original ca and that I am cured. My life has been somewhat of an obstacle course but I have taken it on with a vengence with the help of my support syste. Take good care of yourself and get on a good anti-depressant and sleeping aid. In my opinion they are imperative for your mental health when facing this difficult time in your life. Right now I know that you can't ever imagine a time in your future when you don't worry about cancer but I can honestly say that I rarely ever think about it anymore and am enjoying a very good quality of life.
  • shondo61
    shondo61 Member Posts: 1
    #30
    n_daly said:

    too young for bladder cancer
    I was diagnosed when I was 30. I am scared of getting it again. It has only been 4 months since I had found out about it. I lossed alot of weight and I am still having trouble getting it back. I am so scared that I will get it again and die.

    too young for bladder cancer
    Hi! I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1996. I had two young children and so much to live for. My Consultant offered me a Neo Bladder and removed 2/3 of my original bladder. That was 15 years ago and I have never looked back! I still pass mucous and it can be difficult to diagnose a UTI but that is such a small price to pay.
  • katiehague
    katiehague Member Posts: 2
    #31
    crazydancer said:

    Hi I'm new here, but I could really relate to the title of your post. I am 18, and I was diagnosed in April with TCC. I know exactly what you mean about asking why. This kind of thing only happened to old men...i thought! (haha) I got so sick of going to the hospital and people making comments about how young I was and asking me all these questions. I thought about printing cards out so that I didn't have to keep saying yes people have told me how rare it is for someone my age blah blah blah.... But i've found that things are pretty good. I am a dancer, and I just schedule my cystos around my performances and if they find anything they just cut it out, I do BCG, and that's the end of that for 6 months. I find it pretty manageable, but at first I was so frusterated. I had a tumor the size of a softball removed from my bladder, and I had to have a nef tube in my right kidney, and I felt so restricted. I felt unproductive and pissed off, but I've learned to manage things and look on the bright side...I mean now i have a reason to ride in those motorized chairs in the store!!! So I guess I'm just saying, I know how you feel. I hope to get to know you better!
    Hope and Strength,
    Karen

    I'm the same age!
    Hi, I'm Katie. I'm 18 and I was just diagnosed with bladder cancer last month. Most of the doctors I saw spent a good month and a half thinking it was kidney stones, until my pediatric doctor finally ordered an ultrasound. My tumor wasn't nearly as big, but I had surgery to get it out. I'm in the same position now, I have an endoscopic-type procedure every four months to check if the cancer's returned. My first one's in february, I'm assuming it's going to be a smaller-scale version of my surgery. I'm kind of still in shock that I have bladder cancer. I just started my freshman year of college, so it's really been interfering with my life. Everyone has been saying how obscure it is, I'm the youngest person any of my doctors have heard of having this - just like you said, it's normally in an elderly patient or someone who smokes (I don't seem to fit either criteria haha). I have to say though, it could be much worse. I'm worried about it returning, but my future looks alright for now, and as far as I've heard, if it does return, it's fairly manageable and easy to remove. Thanks for the insight, it really helps to see that I'm not the only one.
    - Katie
  • ebull
    ebull Member Posts: 1
    #32
    peteslsspr said:

    newbie - why positive FISH tests and no C in bladder & kidneys
    Hello,

    Going in tomorrow to have stents removed from procedure to look into both kidneys for cancer. 4 positive FISH tests and two bladder biopsies which were negative...took fish from each kidney last time which both were positive...so went in and looked into both and saw nothing. Could they just not see something? I don't get it.

    Also - how come they use novacaine for a small cavity but when they go in to remove 2 stents on the other side of my bladder to each kidney, they just expect me to hand tough? Does it take too much time to administer something that minimizes what I am sure to be big time pain? 54 year old...former smoker but quit decades ago...

    thanks for the help

    Same Boat
    I have blood in my urine - they did a FISH test and it came back positive. So I had a cystoscopy, and she found nothing. Then did a ureteroscopy - took sample from both kidneys. She could only go into one because my ureters were too narrow and had to put in a stent. She did not find any tumors. The results from the FISH test for both kidneys came positive - FOR BOTH. The dr is dumbfounded. She has no idea why I'm getting these results. I'm 33 years old. If they can't find a reasonable explanation, I have to go to Mayo. She has never heard of this before, ever. What else could it be? I'm so confused.
  • TheMule
    TheMule Member Posts: 1
    #33
    n_daly said:

    too young for bladder cancer
    I was diagnosed when I was 30. I am scared of getting it again. It has only been 4 months since I had found out about it. I lossed alot of weight and I am still having trouble getting it back. I am so scared that I will get it again and die.

    It gets better
    Hi. I was diagnosed at 25 with TCC stage 1. I, like many on this board, experienced pain and bleeding for close to a year. I was treated for UTIs over and over again until my PCP sent me to a urologist (only after I needed a blood transfusion). I had a resection of my bladder at that time. I have had to schedule cystoscopies regularly since. It used to consume me. I would think about all the things that could go wrong. I asked the "why me" question so many times. I would panic every time I went in for a cystoscopy, expecting the worst. There wasn't this board, nor any other support for me. I felt so alone. It lasted years but it gets better. It's been over 15 years now. I still have to schedule cyctoscopies but I don't panic anymore. You get used to your new "self" and learn to deal with it, slowly, over time. You have to. It's the new you and you have experienced something traumatic and unusual. It's a slow process. It's an education in medicine and dignity. It gets better. You won't die. You are young and strong and medicine is excellent. You will survive this.
  • Fran Chandler
    Fran Chandler Member Posts: 29
    #34
    katiehague said:

    I'm the same age!
    Hi, I'm Katie. I'm 18 and I was just diagnosed with bladder cancer last month. Most of the doctors I saw spent a good month and a half thinking it was kidney stones, until my pediatric doctor finally ordered an ultrasound. My tumor wasn't nearly as big, but I had surgery to get it out. I'm in the same position now, I have an endoscopic-type procedure every four months to check if the cancer's returned. My first one's in february, I'm assuming it's going to be a smaller-scale version of my surgery. I'm kind of still in shock that I have bladder cancer. I just started my freshman year of college, so it's really been interfering with my life. Everyone has been saying how obscure it is, I'm the youngest person any of my doctors have heard of having this - just like you said, it's normally in an elderly patient or someone who smokes (I don't seem to fit either criteria haha). I have to say though, it could be much worse. I'm worried about it returning, but my future looks alright for now, and as far as I've heard, if it does return, it's fairly manageable and easy to remove. Thanks for the insight, it really helps to see that I'm not the only one.
    - Katie

    Bladder Cancer
    Hi Katie, They found kidney cancer in 2009 and removed my kidney in Feb 2010. Then four months later they found Bladder Cancer. Been quite a journey! I know that you are for sure young, but it doesn't seem to pick an age anymore. I belong a group called BSCAN Inspire.com. There is over 3000 members and climbing. One little boy is 3 years old!! So like I say I sure wish they could find the cause of all this cancer. I am glad that you are doing so well.Wish you good luck with College. Also pray you continue to have good results with your BC.
    Fran
  • iznuhdj
    iznuhdj Member Posts: 1
    #35
    n_daly said:

    too young for bladder cancer
    I was diagnosed when I was 30. I am scared of getting it again. It has only been 4 months since I had found out about it. I lossed alot of weight and I am still having trouble getting it back. I am so scared that I will get it again and die.

    do not worry about cancer
    do not worry about cancer
  • mommysam
    mommysam Member Posts: 1
    #36
    Was anyone faulsly diagnosed with IC/PBS?
    I am not sure that I will be fighting cancer anytime soon. But there is some cause for concern. If you have the invasive type of bladder cancer that can spread to other place like your female organs, would they pick that up in a pap smear?? Or can you get more than one type at a time?

    I started having trouble back in 09 and I went to see a Urologist. I was diagnosed with IC/PBS without any ruling out of anything else and I have fought UTIs since I was two years old.

    Once the bladder trouble started, colon problems started. Then when I was pregnant with my second child, I had alot of pregnancy complications which was almost 7 months ago. I have never been told that there was ever anything wrong with my cervix, but a recent pap came back abnormal and I have to go in for further testing.

    I am just a little freaked out because I have been otherwise healthy and I have two small children that depend on me and I want to know more information on rather or not all of this can be linked?!?!

    You guys are amazing and helpful some maybe someone knows or can relate and help me make the right decisions on what doctors to see and what questions to ask.
  • jessebenedetti
    jessebenedetti Member Posts: 1
    #37
    I feel the same
    Im jesse, im 33 and in march of this year i was told i have had bladder cancer for the past 2.5 years unknown to me and the doctors kept telling me it was UTI. Finally in a cysto they found the large tumor and then went thru BCG and was clean and in Sept before my next treatment they found 3 new tumors. Ive just finished my 2nd rd of BCG with interferon(sp) ....ive never smoked...and dont have any reason to have this, except what the Dr told me was just "bad luck". Its so hard to graspt this and no one out there seems to understand this so its hard to talk to others. Hope this finds you in good health and look forward to chatting.
    Thanks
    Jesse
  • fillpotforever
    fillpotforever Member Posts: 2
    #38
    Scared about Bladder cancer

    Hi, I am new here but I am scared and was researching Bladder Cancer when I came apon this.  I am 30 yrs old and my Dr. told me the other day she thinks I have bladder cancer.  This all started when they thought I had kidney stones and have been treating me for stones for about a year.  They finally did a CT and didn't find any stones but I still have blood in my urine.  I have pain in my lower back and abdomin and they have already ruled out and infection.  I don't know for sure that I have it but when my Dr told me that I kinda have sunk into this depression.  I am scared and my husband is scared.  I have been sad, mad, even skeptical.  My appt with a Urologist isn't till Feb 12th and today is Jan 24th.  That appt seems so far away.  Can anything get worse in that amount of time?  I really am new to all this.  I have beaten Cervial cancer with just a hysterectomy.  This I have found so far would lead to more then surgery.  I guess I am just really terrified about this.  Any ideas on how to cope till I find out for sure? Please any ideas are welcomed. 

  • RPorter
    RPorter Member Posts: 1
    #39
    fillpotforever said:

    Scared about Bladder cancer

    Hi, I am new here but I am scared and was researching Bladder Cancer when I came apon this.  I am 30 yrs old and my Dr. told me the other day she thinks I have bladder cancer.  This all started when they thought I had kidney stones and have been treating me for stones for about a year.  They finally did a CT and didn't find any stones but I still have blood in my urine.  I have pain in my lower back and abdomin and they have already ruled out and infection.  I don't know for sure that I have it but when my Dr told me that I kinda have sunk into this depression.  I am scared and my husband is scared.  I have been sad, mad, even skeptical.  My appt with a Urologist isn't till Feb 12th and today is Jan 24th.  That appt seems so far away.  Can anything get worse in that amount of time?  I really am new to all this.  I have beaten Cervial cancer with just a hysterectomy.  This I have found so far would lead to more then surgery.  I guess I am just really terrified about this.  Any ideas on how to cope till I find out for sure? Please any ideas are welcomed. 

    I am amazed at how much our

    I am amazed at how much our stories are similar. It really helped to read your post. I too am a cervical cancer survivor of 10 1/2 years. I have HPV and my cervical cancer was adnocarcinoma (a glandular type)I had a total hysterectomy at 28 no chemo either luckily. I've had blood in my urine for 2 years now and I too have had a CT scan for kindney and gall stones and they've found nothing. AT my urologist appt. he also found white blood cells but there was no infection. You're right the waiting it almost too much. It seems that it is a month between appointments. If you don't mind me asking how did your appointment go? I am scheduled for a cystoscopy next Friday and it seems I'm stressing more the closer I get to the appointment.

    I've been doing a lot of research on line while I wait, but I'm not sure if this was the right thing or not. I've found some studies that link HPV to bladder cancer and the similarity of adnocarcinoma and bladder cancer had me feeling more like it will be bladder cancer. I guess I cope better by facing things head on. I've started a list of questions for my doctor and I can say it has helped me sleep a little better feeling like I'm taking control and not sitting back and just waiting. So being prepared for the worst and hoping for the best has seemed to work for me. I hope you have gotten some answers to ease your mind. I'll keep you in my prayers. Please keep in touch. It helps to know you are not alone in the fight!

     

    ~Rose

  • burcu123
    burcu123 Member Posts: 66
    #40
    CynthiaA said:

    I was dx'd with bladder ca in 1996 and have been treated for it ever since. I still have to have a cysto every six mos for the rest of my. I look at my bladder ca as a nuisance, as would be diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis. It's just something that came along with my lousey gene pool. I've had 6 diff primary site ca's with no mets over the past 16 yrs. What I'm trying to say is, 'welcome to your new life.' I often hear people talk about how they want get back to normal...well, surprise, this is your new life as a cancer survivor. This might sound cold...but, didn't anybody ever tell you that you'd never be the same? I remember when one of my Drs said that to me in 1990 and it made me furious. It finally sunk in after a while and I realized that he wasn't being cruel...just honest. My new life over the past 16 yrs has been a great gift, and I know that I will never be the same. There's no going back. If you would like to talk, you can em me here on CSN under my sign in name...Cynthia A

    Chemo from your first cancer may caused the bladder cancer

    DO not blame your gene pool so fast. It is very possible if you receieved cyclofosphamide for your first cancer that it caused the bladder cancer.

     

    CItoxan increases bladder cancer 6 to 7 times. What is sad it it is preventable. A very well known medication called MESNA, prevents bladder cancer in patient receiving Citoxan. Oncologist rarely use it I do not know why. They used it on me foe my breast cancer an my bladder got damaged, I am still suffering while doing research on Citoxan I found out it was preventable with Mesna.

     

  • sam908
    sam908 Member Posts: 1
    #41
    SHarrington1 said:

    too young for bladder cancer
    I too was diagnosed when I was 18 years old. Its all i could think about at the time and I was so scared. they removed a golf ball sized tumor out of my bladder months ago. however, after my last biopsy they found no cancer in my bladder whatsoever. I am still starting the BKG treatments in april as a precautionary thing. not excited in the least.

    Bladder cancer is any of

    Bladder cancer is any of several types of malignancy arising from the epithelial lining.  classic car restoration los angeles

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