The initial diagnosis is really hard to digest, it’s only natural to think the worst as you are facing the unknown. Once you have the first look at any possible tumour you can start to face what is happening and then balance your thought processes around this news. talking with someone you trust will help, make sure they’re a good listener and say all the things that are running through your mind it will help.
people here are also really helpful and have a real wealth of knowledge to support you. Stay strong .
Hi Cornish Lady,Welcome to our friendly group.It is all so overwhelming at first that it’s hard to keep positive.Once a treatment plan is in place most people find they feel better able to cope.There is lots of advice and support here so feel free to ask questions or share your worries.We are all here for you and will try to help if we can.Best wishes Jane
I think it's a natural process to feel totally overwhelmed when we are first told we have to take this terrible journey we really don't want to take but have no choice .. we just want everything to go away and our lives to get back to as we were ... so many others including myself have all felt like you do at this time but as the tests and treatment plan get underway you will soon feel so much more positive and realise that there is no need to be down and depressed.. hopefully you will get through this feeling of doom and gloom .. I try to remember a little quote I heard it help me "yesterday has gone, tomorrow is yet to come worrying about either doesn't solve anything so live for today and be happy" take care and keep writing on the forum so many are here to help advise and encourage xx love Tina x
Hello Cornish Lady. Very difficult and dark times when first diagnosed but as the treatment plans are highlighted things become a little clearer and hopeful. Plenty of good advice on this forum from people who are surviving this dreadful disease. I was diagnosed nearly four years ago and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy cancer is under control. Talk to people don’t hide your problems and fears. Chin up! Garviv
Yes, devastating to start with; we've all thought/think the worst. As everyone is saying, it does get better once treatment starts and you are in the system. I found walking helped my mind; it's good to be as fit as possible. When you have Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), they are very helpful. Macmillan have a telephone access to nurses for support and advice (not the information people). I found them very helpful.
Hi Cornish Lady, it's a normal reaction to think the worst as we all see cancer as a death sentence. We eat, sleep, & breathe cancer, it's your worst mares come true, we know only too well. I just got sick & tired of the what if .... as it drained & exhausted me, & for my own sanity I had to give it up. Thanks to this group I got there in the end, & now see cancer as just another part of my life, although it took me ages to get to this stage in my life. It may get me in the end, or it may not, but I am not going to waste any more time than necessary on this thing. I've got out there & done things that I probably wouldn't normally have done. Whatever you're going through, someone will be here to support you, just as they did me & many others x
A previous poster on here said their doctor was of the opinion that if they had to get any cancer they would choose bladder cancer because it is so often so treatable. You will know more when the medics give you the details. In the meantime most of us suggest you live a healthy and busy-as-possible life so that exercise and fresh air will keep your mood from sinking too far, and busy-ness will distract you from nonstop fretting.
Hi cornish lady. It took me about a month to start thinking straight... this is the time that normally pass between diagnosis and TURBT. At first I didn't understand how, as many said on this forum, you can be more positive once you know exactly what it is and what the treatment is going to be. But sure enough, once I had my lab results, we planned the treatment (well, my contribution was just "I completely trust you. Tell me what to do"!!) I felt so much better... the dark cloud remains. But you learn to live with it. As many people said here bladders cancer is one of the most treatable cancers that there is. You are almost certain that you are not going to die of it. Whether you will ",just" do BCG or also chemo, or also radio or you will need to remove the bladder depends on stage and grade (you will know after the biopsies). But even after a complete bladder removal, you can have a fairly normal life... we have all been through this process. Some are at the beginning, se have been there for longer. So you will always find people who know what's next, what to expect. We are all (or try to be) positive and optimistic. Nobody is saying "oh, don't worry, it's nothing". That's not true. But everybody will tell you that you are now starting a path that is sometimes hard, but has a lot of hope.
Keep your spirits up. You are not alone and we are always here!
