Bladder Cancer

[spookyx]

I am 36 years old, very healthy except I am overweight (6'3 weighting 288) lbs. I do have crohns disease having had a bowel resection 7 years ago but my crohns is beautifully under control now. I was a smoker for 17 years (19 years with a 2 year break) but not a heavy smoker. I would smoke maybe a pack in 2 to 3 days. I am on remicade and immune suppressents plus pain killers. I am not a healthy eater. I never drank water mostly diet soda and ate a lot of processed foods. My doctor told me that they found blood in my urine 4 months ago but that it probably was nothing serious and that I should just go back and check it when convienent. Well I did not got back until 4 months later. There was still blood in my urine so now he is sending me for a CT scan and then possibly a urologist Coincidentally, I had a little viral thing a week before I found this out I have now completely given up smoking, soda and started eating healthy. The only possible symptom that I have is that about 8 months ago I start noticing I needed to urinate more often. I used to have to go every 8-10 hours but started to sometimes have to go every 2 or 3 hours but I did drink a lot of soda as well. I have no burning sensation when urinating, no abdominal pain or back pain, no falsse sense of needing to urinate.

I just am terrified it might be bladder or uretha cancer even though I know there are many other things it could also be. I have just gone through a lot of problems with my crohns and worried that I waited to long to check this out. Had I done the research 4 months ago I would not have delayed but my doctor has been so certain that its nothing that even when it was found the second time he said that I should make an appointment in the next week or two if I can. I made it the very same day and have scheduled all the tests for next week. I go for my CT scan on Monday but I am sick with worry.

Lastly, I want to say that reading your stories that you all are amazingly courageous and inspirational. I hope that none of you are offended by me asking my question.

Thanks so much.

[spookyx]

Oh BTW, they also discovered I had low testoserone. Around 150 something I believe. I guess I forgot to mention I was male before. I have read that some studies are showing low testosterone can put one at higher risk of bladder and some other types of cancer. I would imagine my testorerone has been low for a few years now because my libido has been very low. The doctor is hesitant to put me on testerone injections or patches becasue of the chances of prostate cancer.

[DBAER]

I just read this. I would hope that by now you have seen a urilogist and had a scope. That is the gold standard test. It is not a fun procedure but it really is not bad and with modern equiptment it is not overly uncomfortable.
Bladder cancer is possiable but it is very treatable. If you have not as yet been to a urologist go to one.

[iplayguitars]

Exactly what DBAER said, if you haven't seen a urologists, you really should. 1. Bladder cancer is the #2 cancer of smokers. As Dbaer said, it's not terribly painful (the cystoscope) more just uncomfortable than anything. I've been getting them every 3 months for the last 3 1/2 years. I've had quite a few low-grade tumors but as long as I keep after them, I'll be alright. Hang in there and take care of this.

[DBAER]

When they find low grade toumors do they take them out right then or do you have to have another TUR??

[iplayguitars]

I've had quite a few tumors, some have been taken out at the office right then and there and some I've had to have removed while under anesthesia. I think our of 8 or 9, maybe 4 have been done in the hospital. I had one removed a week ago in the doc's office while under anesthesia, my doctor has a small operating room at his facility and brings in anesthesiologists. It's not as bad as it seems and I've almost always gone to work the next day.

[DBAER]

Thanks. It just makes sense that if it is small and he is in there already why not remove it if he can.