Dear Nervous:
I think we have all been where you are at the moment – wondering, anxious, fearful, impatient, dreading – all at the same time hoping that it is something different from what you think it might be. Bladder cancer is not uncommon and if it is that, you are among friends here.
If it is BC, make sure your urologist is at a major cancer hospital. If not, ask for a second opinion and don’t mess around with it. The urologist will want to examine inside your bladder with a cystoscope and if he finds a tumour he will schedule you for a transurethral resection (TURBT) to remove it along with surrounding tissue so that pathology can stage it and grade it. Get a copy of the pathology report for yourself from your urologist. Ask for it as it will not likely be offered. Based on that report, your further treatment will be assessed and prescribed. Until that happens, you don’t really know what is coming next, but once you know, we can help with a second opinion if warranted, share our experiences, offer suggestions for coping with treatments, etc.
Don’t despair. Keep us posted. Many of us have been on this journey for years and want to help as we can.
Greg
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IMPORTANT: The Bladder Cancer Canada discussion forum is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. The opinions & contents in this forum is for information only and is not reviewed by medical professionals. They are experiences & opinions of patient members like you, and is NOT intended to represent the best or only approach to a situation. Always consult your physician and do not rely solely on the information in this site when making decisions about your health.
