A little bit of blood in my pee 8 weeks ago and being a man I ignored it. A week later another bit of blood so told wife who made me contact my GP, even though we’re in Covid lockdown.
Blood tests,urine test all ok (or not as it turns out) so CT scan and then flexible cystoscopy (camera up the willy). I saw my bladder on the monitor and immediately a lump was spotted.
Next, a week later, was a general anaesthetic and a rigid cystoscopy which removed 5 tumours. Recovery from that was ok, but it stung to wee for a week or so.
Then the waiting for results, which is pretty damn stressful.
5 days later my Consultant called with the not so great news that it was muscle invading bladder cancer. Stage 2, grade 3.
Stage 2 means cancer has made its way into the muscle layer of the bladder. Stage 1 is the least invasive and stage 4 means cancer has escaped the bladder.
Grade 3 means it is the fastest growing cancer, so no time to hang around with decisions.
Options were chemo/radio therapy or Radical Cystectomy (bladder removal).
Radical Cystectomy is my best chance of cancer cure (perhaps 75%).
