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As a 19 year old , bladder cancer was never a topic that crossed my mind. I’ve been very healthy throughout my life, I’ve maintained a steady weight and never had any serious health problems or surgeries.
when I went to see my urologist yesterday he confirmed my worst of fears. After performing a cystoscopy an , the doctor told me I’ll need a more extensive surgery and that the tumor looks to be cancer. They are so sure about this tumor being cancerous that they didn’t feel the need to perform a biopsy and booked me in for surgery on one week to have the whole tumor removed and examined. Is there any chance I don’t have cancer???Hello Charliecharger,
There is always a chance you don’t have cancer, but it would be a wild assumption/guess. That said, it does seem odd that the Urologist did not perform the steps to do a biopsy. I can only assume that he/she had good reason(s) to book you immediately to remove the tumor. Did your Urologist give you any more information? How about your family Doctor?
I am only guessing, but given your age, perhaps your Urologist felt it best to remove the tumor and ask questions later so to speak. I would definitely go back to your Urologist and ask the question as to why the assumption?
My best,
Your Nick name sounded familiar and when I did a search, I found that you had posted another Post with the following description. I am pasting it here as it provides more background for any of the members to provide you with feedback/advice. When I read the two together, it sounds like you did go in for a follow-up check and your Urologist has decided to take action based on EVERYTHING he/she has reviewed and diagnosed.
From your other Post:
“Yesterday, December 19th, 2019. I got a call from the urologist I was referred to after visiting the ER 3 weeks prior for a concerning amount of blood in the urine. They did not give me any results at the hospital and told me it looked as if I had a possible polyp in my bladder and sent me off with antibiotics, when I got the call from the urologist this week I was at work, so he left me a message and told me that my urine test showed blood but didn’t give me full details and told me my ultrasound showed a “possible” tumor and that I need to go in for a procedure to see as soon as possible. He said at the end “ I can’t stress enough once again how important this exam is and said I “could” have bladder cancer. I’m not sure what a “possible” tumor means or if he just can’t tell me over the phone, but I am very concerned as a 19 year old university student.
Hi Charliecharger:
You are most definitely very very young to be dealing with the possibility of bladder cancer, however judging by what you’ve posted it sounds like your uro is being prudent in getting you in for surgery to remove the tumour.
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong but I have come across stories of where some patients when going for their first cysto will have a biopsy done on the spot. The uro takes a small sample of the tumour and sends it off to pathology and if it does turn out to be cancer patients are called back for a full surgery to remove the whole tumour. I live in western Canada and the usual protocol here is that a patient will have all or some of these tests; urine cytology, blood work, x-rays, ultrasound, CT scan first then if it is thought necessary either because of what is or is not found a patient is referred to a urologist. The next step is usually a cystoscopy which as you know by now, visually confirms anything that might or might not have shown up before. If tumours are discovered, patients are booked for a scope surgery to remove the tumours. The tumours are sent off to pathology to be confirmed if they are actually cancer and if so, what type, stage and grade they are. Those results will determine any and next steps.
My uro wouldn’t confirm visually at the time of the first cysto whether the tumours were cancerous or not. I think he was playing it safe by telling me the pathology results after surgery would indicate the next steps. It’s their way of covering their butt (rightly so) and they don’t want to give you any false info up front. I think that he did know that it was cancer but didn’t want to tell me until as mentioned he had the pathology report in front of him so he knew what we were dealing with and it would go from there. If he had given me all possible scenarios it would have been too much info to deal with at that time, So, the long and short of it is, I think you uro is operating similar to mine; hope for the best (it’s non-cancerous polyps) and prepare for the worst (some form of cancerous tumours).
Knowing what I know about bladder cancer, don’t mess around. Get the surgery done as soon as possible so that this can be behind you. We will hope and pray that the news will be good in that they are just nuisance polyps and not bladder cancer. All the best and don’t hesitate to stay in touch. Post any questions. No question is a dumb question. Bladder cancer is a big learning curve but we as mentioned are praying that you don’t have that and that it turns out to be just a nasty scare. ((((HUGS))))
Hello Charliecharger,
I am sorry to hear that you may have Bladder Cancer. I feel for your Anxiety and Stress. We all go through it. That six letter word causes so much emotion.
Try not to get ahead of yourself.
Normally, Urologists have an expertise to detect whether there is Suspected Cancer. BUT, whether it is Cancer, or the nature and extent of Cancer, can only be confirmed by Pathology.
The Urologist will perform a TURBT (Trans Urethrial Resection for Bladder Tumor, (I may have the spelling wrong)), to remove the Tumor. TURBT is usually performed in an operating environment. The patient is usually sent home the same day. The tissue samples are sent to Pathology where they look at the tissue and cellular structure to see what it is.
IF it is BC (Bladder Cancer): BC is highly treatable. Most patients diagnosed with Bladder Cancer (over 70%) have what is called NMIBC (Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer)
In my case, the during the first Cystoscopy, my Urologist saw a large Papillary Tumor. He was sure it was cancer and scheduled me for a TURBT. The Pathology for the Tumor was confirmed as Cancer: Non-Invasive Low Grade with Focal High Grade elements (i.e. NMIBC, TaLG). Because of the size of the Tumor and the Focal HG, I had another TURBT. During that operation, the Urologist noticed small Tumors at the Original Tumor site. Those were removed and the TURBT sample was sent to Pathology. Pathology said it was healing tissue …. no Cancer.
At three months I had another Cystoscopy. I had what appeared to the Urologist to be a Sessile Tumor at the original Tumor site. So … another TURBT. The samples were sent to Pathology and, low and behold, Pathology said it was just healing tissue as a result of the second TURBT and BCG treatment – No Cancer present.
WHAT I am trying to outline here:
The Urologist has a pretty good idea whether the patient is presenting with what will require a TURBT (because of suspected cancer). Only after Pathology with you and your medical team know for sure the nature and type of Cancer – if at all. This will be used to determine your treatment. In my first TURBT Cancer was confirmed. In the next two TURBTs I had what visually appeared to be Cancer BUT Pathology confirmed it was NOT. I was treated with BCG.
Your Urologist suspects you have Cancer. Therefore the Urologist would need to do a TURBT and send the tissue to Pathology. You will need to wait for the results from Pathology.
I know this journey sucks. I feel for you dealing with the unknowns.
We are here to help
God Bless
DDep
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