Worried sick for my mother - concerned about symptoms

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Hi to all,

I am worried sick for my 58yo mother. After a call from a nurse at our GP surgery today telling her about a positive dipstick test (non-visible blood in urine), my mum is concerned she has bladder cancer.

She has recently experienced pelvic 'period-like' pain prompting her to contact the GP. This presented a bit like thrush, soreness down below and a nagging pelvic pain, but it didn't go away on treating with thrush cream, so she got in touch with the GP, who booked her an appointment with a very helpful nurse. The nurse asked for a urine sample, which was positive for blood when dipstick tested (non-visible/microscopic haematuria), but no bacteria was grown in the sample when it was sent to the lab. The nurse also sent her for blood tests (including CA125), which have all come back clear. We're awaiting the results of a stool sample, although she had done one in the last year which was clear .

Today she dropped off another urine sample to the GP to be tested, which again has come back positive for blood in a dipstick test, again, non-visible. The nurse had already referred her for a pelvic ultrasound, which will be done next week, and has today referred her for a scan of the kidneys (no date for this yet).

Mum has been so worried and has now googled it and believes she has bladder cancer. Today she told me that in the last couple of months she's felt like she hasn't been able to empty her bladder fully.

Some other info/symptoms:

On and off pelvic pain which she describes to be like a nagging period pain (she is post-menopause)
Goes to the toilet at least once during the night, but she has done so for at least 5 years, so this isn't a new thing
No visible blood in her urine when she goes to the toilet, however she has had two positive dipstick tests where microscopic blood has been found
In the last couple of months she hasn't felt like she's been able to empty her bladder fully - e.g. goes to the toilet but feels like there's still more she could do
She says she feels generally tired, however I don't believe she gets enough sleep (very rarely sleeps for more than 6 hours) and I also think it's worth mentioning that we have had an incredibly traumatic few years with other personal circumstances
Semi-recurrent thrush (or what we believe to be thrush) - she's had this several times over the last 2-3 years
Non-smoker
Had a fall 3 months ago in which she broke her pelvis (non-frail - unfortunately the dog went after something and caught her off guard)

We do worry a lot as my maternal grandfather died of cancer at c.50yo (possibly bowel, it was never defined), and my maternal grandmother died due to medical negligence (missed/mistreatment of a blockage in the abdomen leading to sepsis and organ failure). Of course the more we worry, the worse we all feel, and since this call she said the pain in her pelvis has come back.

I'm terribly worried for her and for us. I know that nothing can be confirmed until we've had these scans done and all results back, but I just don't know what to do. I simply cannot deal with anymore heartbreak. Not that it would make it any easier but I only have her, my sibling and an uncle, no other family.

So, I'm not really sure what the purpose of this post is, as I am fully aware that medical advice cannot be given. I was trying to search through the forum to find details on bladder cancer symptoms for females over 50 who've been diagnosed, but I haven't found anything as yet.

I wish I could reassure her, but I know we just have to wait for these scans to happen.

With my very best wishes to all on here,

rily 14 days ago

Hi worriedsick and welcome to this supportive group. It is understandable that you are worried about mum, but be aware that bladder cancer can be treated successfully if it turns out to be that. Good to know she is going for further tests but you need to try and push for a flexile cystoscopy which is the main test. A simple procedure which is a camera in to the bladder. Ultrasounds are not ideal for detecting BC. Try and get mum to stay away from Google as there is a lot of out of date information out there. best wishes.

Best wishes to All, rily.

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Age52BladderC 14 days ago

Sorry to hear about your concerns with your mum. As Rily says, even if she is diagnosed with bladder cancer everyone on this forum will tell you that bladder cancer can be treated.

However, most times bladder cancer presents asymptomatically (no symptoms barring (usually visible) blood in the urine). We’re not medical professionals on this forum and your mum’s GP should obviously be your first point of contact (rather than google) but it’s possible that a urinary tract infection might be the cause of some of her symptoms. Hopefully you will find some facts soon.

Best wishes

Gareth

Ma78 14 days ago

I had blood found in wee after seeing doc about the same kind of trouble your mum has going to toilet but not feeling bladder emptied and having to go back. No pelvic pain though. They sent me for bladder scan and ultrasound. Both clear. It turned out it was fibroids in uterus which were bleeding. Successfully treated. Not cancerous. So no need to start panicking just yet!

worriedsick 14 days ago in reply to rily

Thank you very much Rily. I will ask her to request a flexible cystoscopy. Really appreciate your reply and I do feel reassured that there is this community here. Take care.

worriedsick 14 days ago in reply to Ma78

Hi Ma78, thank you for replying. That's interesting, thanks for sharing your experience. She has had fibroids before and I did ask her about that the other week, I assume she has mentioned it with the nurse/GP. I will try to compile a list of everything (symptoms and health history) so we can make sure nothing has been missed, as even though healthcare staff do have access to that, I know it's not always strung together. I really do hope it is something less serious. Thank you, best wishes.

worriedsick 14 days ago in reply to Age52BladderC

Hi Gareth, thanks so much for your message. Absolutely agree, I hope we can get these scans done and anything else necessary to get an answer soon. Take care.

Denby 14 days ago in reply to worriedsick

Hi worriedsick. I note your Mum only tried thrush 'cream' when she had the symptoms that might be thrush. My old Gp used to say, whenever I turned up asking for canesten cream, that he would only give me the combi pack. He said if you didn't treat inside with the pessary it was like polishing the doorstep when the inside of the house needed cleaning!!! So it's still even possible that it is actually only thrush -I've had that sort of pain with it when I didn't use the pessary.

I've also heard of similar symptoms post menopause as the tissue alter under the reduced amount of hormones. Top and bottom, she needs that cystoscopy to make sure. And as has been said, if it IS cancer, hey, no immediate panic, bladder cancer is one of the most treatable for the majority of cases.

Please keep us posted if you can, as to the results; if it is cancer we are here to support you and your Mum. If not there will be support groups for whatever is causing these symptoms.

Denby

worriedsick 14 days ago in reply to Denby

Thank you for your reply, Denby. That's my mistake - I typed out the post quickly and it should've read capsule or pessary and cream, as she's definitely used the combi/duo packs.

Yes, lots of different things it could be, I'd suggested that to her too as I know the tissue changes post menopause, but it's the lower pelvic pain that is really worrying her, and now the positive urine dipstick has only compounded that concern.

I have suggested we sit down and write up a full record of symptoms, things that she is worried about, family history etc. and anything relevant so that we can ensure nothing is missed. I will request a cystoscopy.

Thank you for your kind reassurance.

winkers60 13 days ago

Hi worriedsick,Welcome to our friendly group though I’m sorry you find yourself here.Definitely push for a Cystoscopy as this will show up any abnormalities in the bladder.If any are found then a follow up cystoscopy and biopsies would be done under an anaesthetic.There are several causes of blood in the urine but it should be investigated.If your mum feels like her bladder is not emptying fully that does need to be looked at.I hope you get some answers soon.The first piece of advice I got here was to stay off Google.Let us know how your mum gets on with her tests.Best wishes Jane x

Teasswill 13 days ago

Understandable that you are worried, but now your Mum is getting some tests done, hopefully she will soon get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. I am female and was diagnosed age 56, referred for a possible gynae cancer (but also blood detected in urine). Pelvic ultrasound picked up that my problem was bladder rather than gynae. My wonderful hospital arranged for a flexi cysto there and then, so I got transferred to urology without delay.

Tests and treatment are so much better now than in your grandparents' day, so hopefully plenty available for whatever problem your Mum has. Best wishes.

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