2 Week Referral

Hi Georgie1 and welcome to the group although sorry to hear your concerns. It is not unusual for ladies in particular to be treated for UTIs before being referred. The positive is that you now have a referral. Your first urology appointment may be an ultrasound but more likely a flexible cystoscopy. A cystoscopy is a camera in to the bladder and only takes a few minutes. You will be able to see for yourself on screen if anything is there and the doctor will talk you through it. We know how worrying the not knowing and uncertainty can be. If anything is identified you will then go forward for treatment. Be aware that if it does turn out to be BC, then is can be treated successfully. Lots of us have been through it and always someone here to try and answer any questions.

Thank you for your comforting response Rily.

Hi Georgie!,

I'm female, had blood and a diagnosed UTI and antibiotics. Then a couple of months later another lot of blood that did not turn out to be a UTI so no antibiotics. I insisted on a 2 week referral for a CT scan, review with a specialist nurse, CNS - lots of questions - and the cystoscopy.

Rily has given you a clear description of the pathway but I just want to say it seems that each hospital and specialist has their own way of doing things so it's as well to be aware of that.

In my hospital, although they showed me something that looked like a verruca during the cystoscopy they didn't discuss what it might be. But sent me for a TURBT some weeks later.

Even then they only told me that it was cancer at the feedback meeting once the pathology was clear and they had discussed me at the MDT (multidisciplinary meeting).

Then they all piled in with treatment including chemo, bladder removal, and later immunotherapy (my cancer was muscle-invasive). 

I've been fine for nearly 3 years now and am under 6 monthly review next one coming up this month.

Please try not to worry too much. Bladder cancer has good recognised treatments and there are lots of us here that have experienced it. 

All the best,

Latestart

Thank you Latestart.  Having been through cancer once, tbe thought of a second one is devastating.  Thank you for your comprehensive response, I really appreciate andcall the very best for the future.

Hu Georgie,

I'm so sorry to hear you are in this position for a second time, but as others have said things can happen very quickly if they are on it. If not chase them up or get your local GP to chase it up. 

You have unfortunately had some prior experience so hopefully that helps you with what your hospital is like at moving quickly or not as the case may be. 

In my case last year everything moved very quickly Indeed, think it was the end of May I had blood in my urine, ultrasound and Flexi in no time, revealed a tumour, July in for TURBT and a CT scan in between those with contrast and bloods done as well. 

Same so far with 3 monthly checkups and 2 recurrences removed since and just finished 6 weeks of Mitomycin 1 day a week. Next Rigid scope on the 29th October now I've finished to see what is what after the Chemo.

Thankfully for me mine was NMI but has still been a roller coaster ride for the last year and 4 months, so we all understand how difficult it is and the worry and the stress.

It's not easy but I've tried as best I can to not overly worry or stress myself out over things I cant control and hope the consultants etc do the best they can for me and my situation. It doesn't stop me from having wobbles that's for sure but people on here help a lot as does talking things through, and it's often better talking to people who have gone through the same or similar I find.

So lastly good luck and I hope you get some answers soon.

Thank ypu for your comforting response Simon.  It has moved very quickly.  I have an appointment at urology next Thurday.