My journey to Bladder Cancer

Hi Caust and a welcome from me. Unfortunately, we have found over the years that ladies are often diagnosed late because of the reasons you mention. Good to know you are now in the system. I hope all goes well with your treatment plan. Lots of varying experiences here, so usually someone with an answer to any questions. Best wishes.

Welcome, whatever your treatment plan, there is usually someone around here who has been the same route. You can feel safe asking any question about BC & its treatment here, but bear in mind we are only experts of our own position, not medical specialists! Hope all goes well for you.

Hi Caust,

Hope you find this place useful there are many of us who have had treatment for bladder cancer .

As a woman I had to push a bit too but after 2 lots of blood in urine (the first was diagnosed as a UTI and treated by antibiotics while the second time there was no infection) I insisted on being referred to a large London teaching hospital whose Urology department I had heard good things about.

I knew I needed help as my mother died of bladder cancer in 1974 - untreated because found too late. The CNS told me that men are referred after one lot of blood but women only after two (he was cross that despite bladder cancer in the family they hadn't sent me earlier.

My diagnosis of cancer was a shock - it is still a scary word and I hadn't smoked since Mum's death - but 20 plus years of passive smoke as well as 5 years of a packet a day and maybe some genetic inheritance meant I wasn't very surprised deep down. I have managed to keep calm and reasonably cheerful throughout, which helps me and the family cope.

Fortunately the hospital has seen me through their 1 stop shop during which they found a tumour, A TURBT which found it was muscle-invasive cancer, Chemo, Robotic surgery and then 3 months of immunotherapy followed by 2 years of quarterly reviews with the oncologist and I am about to have my  first 6-monthly check up: CT scan and review which I hope will be clear too.

If it isn't, we shall deal with whatever happens. I have not worried or been upset about all of this - after all I knew what doing nothing leads to so I have grabbed everything with both hands. And my motto is worry doesn't cure anything so I don't. I also have never taken much notice of stages and grades of cancer - as my oncologist says, those are just to help medics decide what treatment to use and once the cancer is out it's all academic anyway.

I hope you can find a good way through all your treatment: it can take a lot out of one, but it is possible to live a good life during and after that.

All the best,

Latestart

Thank you for sharing your journey.  I hope I can not worry as much as you are right that better to be able to not.  Can I ask if you had CIS and if offered bladder removal?  

Thank you  

Thank you

Hi Caust,It’s good you feel confident to share your story here.I hope you will find the group helpful.Best wishes Jane x