Urology appointment next week

Hi Cadwell and welcome to the group although you would rather not have to be here. We know how scary the early days of not knowing and uncertainty can be. Firstly, be aware that BC can be treated successfully if it turns out to be that. and many here can confirm that. Have they told you what to expect at your oncology appointment? The first main test would be an ultrasound or more likely a flexible cystoscopy. A cystoscopy is a camera in to the bladder. Done under local anaesthetic. Usually painless but a bit uncomfortable for a minute. Takes about ten minutes. You will see for yourself on screen if there is anything untoward going on. Lots of experience here so usually someone with an answer to any questions. Best wishes.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Regarding your anxiety, one option could be to visit your GP and explain the situation. He may recommend CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which is a posh title for a form of counselling. In 2017 when I was diagnosed, I had a severe medical phobia, something that started when I was about 6 years old and had been repeatedly told I'd grow out of it. I used to faint at the slightest hint of medical stuff, even just reading a news headline when dad had his newspaper at the breakfast table which said something like 'Teacher gives her 50th pint of blood as a donor.'  I keeled over from my chair and mum thought I was messing about!!  Being diagnosed with cancer filled me with terror. I simply had to seek help. CBT gradually defused my extreme anxiety and enabled me to face subsequent treatment, only fainting twice during 2017/18. It may be worth a try.  Ray (male, now 76) 

Hi Cadwell,

Well every hospital seems to do things slightly differently but I can tell you what happened to me when, aged 69, I found blood in my urine and was referred to my hospital's 1 stop shop. By the way, I say my hospital, but I got my GP to refer me to a large teaching hospital where someone in my family had good experience of the urology department, rather than the local general hospital.

I was first seen by a very kind male Cancer Nurse Specialist (CNS) who took me through my medical history - including the fact that my mother had died 50 years ago of Bladder cancer (found too late because she hid it), and that I had not smoked since that time.

Then I was sent for blood tests (don't worry too much about that, all hospital phlebotomists are in and out before you realise it because they do it all the time. Just look away and talk about something else like I do.) You'll be having that beforehand I see.

After that I had a CT scan - if you haven't had one before, you lie on a bed which moves in between a doughnut shaped ring of plastic and metal and breath in and out as they tell you - doesn't hurt at all. I have a bad back so ask them for the pillow that raises my knees up.

Then I saw a Urology doctor who slid a tube into my bladder (very quickly and it doesn't hurt - better for women than men, by the way.) she had a look around my bladder - there's a camera in the tube and I did see something a bit strange on the screen but she didn't comment and I didn't ask. Then I pulled up my pants and went home.

I week or so later they called me in for a short operation called a TURBT where they look inside under general anaesthetic and take biopsies. A couple of weeks later they brought me in to see the Urology consultant and the same CNS who told me I had cancer. Some hospitals tell you that, if they think it's clear, after the tube stuff, mine didn't. 

It was a shock, but not enormous, and they gave me the prognosis and what they intended to do very kindly. 

I needed chemo and bladder removal and now 3.5 years later I'm doing well (have been for over 3 years actually).

So my advice is try not to worry - I've explained things so you won't imagine something worse. They know what they are doing, not everyone has their bladder removed - more superficial cancers are dealt with using BCG or similar treatments. 

Click on my name and you can read what I have had done and the same for anyone else on this forum who has filled in their bio.

All the best,

Latestart

Thank you for your reassuring reply.

Yes, the appointment letter list several tests. I know there will be a cystoscopy which I'm certainly not looking forward to, but I'm reminding myself that I've had a camera up my nose & down the back of my throat and a gastroscopy & I survived those, though I had a sedative for the latter.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the camera doesn't find anything.

Thank you for your kind and detailed reply.

I'm glad to hear you're doing well.

Thank you for your kind reply Ray.

Good to hear that you're doing well and that the CBT helped. I think I might try some hypnotherapy before the appointment. When I had a minor op a few years ago I fainted due to anxiety a couple of days before, but hopefully that won't happen again.