First post here and scared to death

bixa525 said:

Guidance and Hope
Brightstargal, Thank you for your encouraging words and I will be thinking and praying for you to have a successful surgery today. Post back when you get a chance. I am worried now it could be kidney cancer because I also have back pain along with all my other symptoms. I don't have a UTI because I was checked out for that and it showed nothing. I will try and take your advice and stay calm but honestly I don't know what else this could be besides bladder or kidney cancer. I am just scared and my daughter is getting married on May 29th and all I can do is worry about all of this. I know I have to stay positive though so that is what I will try to do. Thanks for taking with me.

bixa525 said:

Next Step....
Well I saw the uroligist today and he is sending me for a CT scan on Monday and then I have to go back to him to have a cystoscopy. I guess I will know what I am dealing with soon.

brightstargal said:

hope you have good results
Hi Bixa,
I am 2 weeks post op now, one week in the hospital, one week at home. It gets easier each day but I still have the catheter until Weds. I also find out the pathology then. Any news on your situation? Congratulations on your daughter's upcoming wedding. Don't let anything get in the way of that! Focus on how happy you are for her and enjoy every moment. You can't change what will be now. You will make rational and logical decisions going forward.
Keep us posted. Brightstargal

ritz and glitz said:

tumors
Bixa, I am a 63 year old, healthy woman who has battled superficial bladder tumors for 41 years. The secret is staying on top of the situation. I just had 2 removed 2 weeks ago and am starting BCG therapy next Tuesday. This will be my third go round with BCG. The first time was 7 years ago & it kept them away for 5 years. The next was 1 1/2 years ago & they came back after a year. So, we'll see how this next session goes. I make sure I get my cystos every 3, 6 or 12 months. The secret is keeping them under control. I seem to be the one that has fought these the longest so let me know if I can help. Ritz and Glitz

dpoe said:

superficial tumor
Ritz and Glitz,

You had to have been really young when you started with this. I just had my tumor removed on 4/23. My bladder still seems a little sore and aching in my upper right hand side. I'm a nervous wreck. Mine was superficial grade 2 and he said I don't need any type of treatments so far. My life has fallen apart. I am soooo scared. How long does it take to feel a little less stressed?

Pris42 said:

titz and glitz, not sure about the other gal but you definately helped me. I had five tumors in the bladder found the end of October 2009. I had surgery November 5th 2009 and two of the five were cancerous but TS1 I think was what they were called for kind and stage. They were removed and I had the BCG treatments. The part you helped with is since I just had my first three month checkup and was cancer free but while that is so and I am on top of the world with the news cancer free I also know that according to the surgeon and the Cancer Doctor my chances of getting more tumors there is 30 to 60 percent. They told me what you just said though the secret is to stay on top of it and keep up all my three month appointments then six months then once a year and keep watch so they can be found and treated with surgery tow of them this time they had to check out a ureter and kidney too both were fine but surgery and BCG treatments should take care of it if it returns and we stay on top of things. Some how it sounds more positive or reassuring coming from one who has been there done that though. Thanks for that I appreciate it greatly. Just went to two cancer survivor dinners which at first i wasn't sure about but they said you are a survivor from the day you are diagnosed any day you live past that. One was a dinner by the Relay for Life people I was on a team here the other put on by the cancer center in Effingham Illinois where I go to see my cancer doctor. Now I have started thinking the right way yes I am a survivor at 67 years young still enjoying to much of life and family and friends so surviving and enjoying life. Thanks again.

Skid Row Tom said:

dpoe follow-up
I just drink plenty of water and pee on a regular basis. I've been a teacher for 30+ years, and a urologist told me that teachers and truck drivers are prone to bladder infections because they don't empty their bladder enough. I also read somewhere that cancer hates tomatoes (the acid). So, I drink a V-8 every morning and don't shy away from salsa and pasta sauce. Other than that, the normal sensible things -- eat fruits and vegetables and cut down on processed foods and meats. No radical changes.

I had the tumors removed in a hospital by a local urologist. It was during a cystoscopy under general anesthetic. The BCG treatments were started about two weeks after the cystoscopy. There was one treatment a week for six weeks. If the first round of treatments failed, he would have had to do a second six weeks worth of treatments. I don't know why your doctor didn't recommend BCG. You might want to ask. Treatment options vary among doctors, but BCG, I think, is an often-prescribed follow-up to superficial bladder tumors.

brightstargal said:

guidance and hope
Hi bixa,
I am also a 51 year old female. I too, had blood in the urine but only since last September. You may just have routine UTIs. Only the urologist after testing can tell you what it is. Hang in there. I know, the waiting is the hardest. I was diagnosed with a cancerous bladder tumor which was removed in March. The good news was that the cancer did not spread. I was horrified when told by 3 doctors that the best option for my survival was to have my bladder removed. I am scheduled for a radical cystectomy tomorrow. It will mean some changes in my life but I am confident that I will conquer this thing. I am hoping that the doctor can create a neobladder, which after time, will function like the original organ. Panic attacks are normal in these situations. Speak to your GP to prescribe something to calm you down. Not knowing is the worst, but once you know you must take positive steps to make sure you have the right treatment and the right doctors and hospital if necessary. My family and friends are amazed that I am handling this so rationally but if you think about the other alternatives, it is the only way to do it. Stay calm. Try to do all the normal things you usually do. I am hoping that you will get good news but if you don't, it's not the end of the world. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Talking with others will help. Stay in touch.