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Im a 33 year old, mother,
Worried and waiting for an appointment to see a Urologist,
They saw 2 masses in my bladder..
The waiting and waiting is really stressing me out!
I am by nature not a patient person.
I would just like to know what I am dealing with and start working towards a solution.
My other worry is that I feel pain almost everywhere.
In my abdomen and chest and back.How have you dealt with the waiting……. And waiting…….
I am trying to inform myself in case it is BC
But the more I read, the more I worry, and the more I get impatient!Hi Nancia. Glad to see you found this site so early in your journey. Wherever it leads you will find people here that can empathize with you and share their journey. There is great comfort in that. How well I remember where you are right now. Totally normal to worry while waiting. Couple of things I found helpful were these. 1) Don’t get ahead of where you are right now. It is good to learn information to see what it might be, but Dr Google can also be a source of a lot of unnecessary worry. Just take it a step at a time, dealing with what you know now, and whatever the next step is. 2) Be a firm advocate for your own health. Make sure you ask for, confirm and follow up on all appts. 3) If anything changes, call your doctor. When my symptoms appeared, it was just small specks of blood in my urine. After an ultrasound and discovery of a mass in my bladder, my appt with the uro was set for 4.5 months later! However when the specks turned to dark red urine a few weeks later, I called the doctor right away. He told me to go to emerg, which I did. As a result my appt with the uro was moved up by 4 months. I am sure you will get some other good advice from others. Hang in there, Nancia.
Thank you!
I am also glad I found this site!
So far only my husband and I are in the loop,
So this is a great outlet for me because keeping it bottled up is not working for me.
And letting my friends and family know would just make things worse for now, because I really don’t have much information, and do not want to worry them also.
Thank you for those suggestions!Nancia:
Waiting is a very hard thing to do. But it can also be a time of educating yourself, sharing with your husband and perhaps coming to grips with someone else who can be inthe loop and be a support. Support is key. I understand keeping the loop small, but sometimes it may be too small. But that’s your call all the way. Get a copy of your pathology report when it is available. It will help you understand what you are dealing with and there are those here who can translate it into layman’s terms. Be a good advocate for yourself while at the same time not being a pain in the neck. Although that too may become necessary on occasion. Get the best docs and follow their guidance, but do not be afraid to ask for a second opinion if it seems warranted.
All the best.
GregNancia:
As Greg says, support is key in whatever context helps you (big or small). I was 39 when I first discovered something wrong and after the “waiting” and wondering for what seemed like an eternity I was diagnosed with BC. Google can be such a great tool but it can be a horrible one in the same. If you google hang nail it ultimately results in your hand falling off, or a stubbed toe means you’ll lose a foot. Keep it all in context and know that until the doctors know you will have to wait for your wanted solution.
I had never heard of bladder cancer before I was diagnosed. Like you I am not a patient person and I immersed myself in research, what ifs and their outcomes. This is what empowered me, not to mention the fantastic people here on Bladder Cancer Canada’s forum.
Have they provided you dates of follow ups and such?
Ed
Hi Nancia!
Welcome to the site that no one wishes they had to belong to. Like you I was very stressed out with all the waiting to get results to figure out exactly what was wrong and then of course what the game plan would be. I would think that the other pains that you feel are most likely from all the tension in your body right now. My suggestion like the others is go easy on how much you read and research into. As mentioned, google is great but it can be too much of a good thing if you have an overactive imagination and tend to dwell on all the what ifs. The main thing is to find out if it is cancer, then what stage and grade it is at if that is what it turns out to be and then ask your uro what the plan is from there.
When faced with a potentially serious diagnosis your world seems to stop as if you are frozen in time. It is hard to believe that everyone else is continuing with their everyday lives. For now until you know, I strongly suggest that you carve some me time doing some things that you really enjoy to take your mind off it and try to reduce your mental stress. While we were in waiting mode, my hubby took me and the youngest out of town for a few days. We got to swim in Lake Okanogan in B.C. and see the local sights. While not perfect it did help. I also lost myself in some good books and took a lot of hot baths even though it was mid summer and did acupuncture. I took up yoga as well. These things helped me calm down and I was able to deal with things better as they came along. Please keep in touch and let us know what happens. Ask all the questions you want. There are lots of us here that have had all kinds of experiences and will be happy to help.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!
I cant tell you how comforted I feel for the time you have taken to respond to my worries!
Your suggestions have already helped me put things in perspective, all of the suggestions have helped me put the breaks on my brain that has been speeding at 150 ml/h!
And even tho it is not a club I would have chosen, I am greatful such forums exist. How few words can have such a big impact.
Thanks again to all of you for taking the time to calm my nerves with amazing suggestions, and giving me direction at this stage.
I will keep you in the loop, as soon as I get some news.
Please do Nancia,
We’ve all been there and know how it feels. Keep us posted and ask away.
Sending you positive vibes
Ed
I agree with all these friends posting. Always get copies of your pathology reports-make a file to take with you to other appointments! Always stop and ask the DR to explain in simple language. If your feeling emotional or overwhelmed. We tend to go home only remembering part of the info or misinterpreting it! Ask lots of questions on the board……lots of people have been through similar type situations. Do NOT GOOGLE!!!! It will only make you go crazy and jump the gun. If you are confused ask ask ask questions. If you want another opinion ask for one. If you want a procedure done somewhere else put your foot down and request it. If you feel like the waiting is to long to handle for a upcoming appointment call daily for cancellations. But remember the Journey is only based on what gear you choose to bring with you! If you feel defeated and out of energy before a appointment then you may not be in the right mind space to hear the positive…and then thus focus on the negative. If you prepare yourself step by step with the cognizant desire to move forward with your heart, mind, soul and body prepared then you will be ready for any results they throw at you. God Bless
Hello
I wanted to let let you know that I had my cystoscopy today,
It was really fast and not to uncomfortable.
The Urologist said it looked clear, I was able to see my bladder the only thing I saw was a little dot almost like a pimple.
He said that since my ultrasound showed something that he wants me to get a CT scan.
I don’t know how I feel about that since he pretty much told me everything looked good.
So I don’t see the need in getting a CT. He told me after the CT I will have an appointment with him.
I did feel rushed and at the hospital was the first time I met him so I was not able to ask too much.
So should I pop a champagne bottle??I just wanted to update all of you who where so kind to help me through the waiting!
Congrats on the results of the cysto today. You are fortunate to have a doc who is really thinking about you in regards to the CT scan. It is just another test to assure you that you are indeed cancer free. I recommend you get the scan done just as a safeguard and it will also get this all behind you. By all means pop that champagne bottle!!
Thanks for the update as we all love to hear great news.
All the best,
JackHi Nancia, if you’re going to pop a champagne bottle, can I join you? I know its difficult to take this journey because cancer in all of its’ forms is hard to understand. Having said that, small is good. Your urologist sounds like he’s being very thorough by referring you for a scan, so that’s a good thing too. I would suggest that when you meet with him for a consult after your scan which I expect you will, have your questions all written out and take someone with you to that apt. because 4 ears are better than 2. They are busy though and I often feel rushed at these apts. too, but don’t be afraid to tell him that you have some questions. In the meantime, if you go on this site where lots of information is posted on bladder cancer, you will become more familiar with the terms used when discussions around bladder cancer are going on. Post on here anytime you feel the need to express your concerns or just connect with others who are going through this journey along with you.
Take care of yourself.
LorraineHi Nancia: I’d recommend having the CT like everyone suggests. It will confirm or deny anything that the ultrasound suspects. The cysto can only check the inner surface of the bladder. But congrats on the all clear it is a big step in the right direction. Let us know how it goes. ((((HUGS))))
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