Bladder cancer

[user1484615313]

Hi I'm 39 year old female. Just wanted to ask if anyone has had bladder cancer and what were your initial symptoms. I seeing A LOT! with blood in urine that was picked up by the gp dipstick test that shows no infection. Also just generally not feeling well and tired. I've been referred to the urologist for tests. I'm pretty sure there is something sinister going on as I've had X-rays of bowels and bloods done and scan of the bladder and kidneys. All normal. Stool no blood just two weeks of this blood in urine and my peeing with burning pain.

[AnnaFiveTowns]

Sounds like you've got a bladder infection to me. Speaking from experience, the tests that GPs run are very unreliable; most infections are missed. But having a chronic infection can leave you feeling very unwell in general.

[user1484615313]

I really hope so. I'm really dreading all this waiting around to see a specialist and having it hanging over you like this. The doctor wasn't that reassuring either. She looks really worried and said I shouldn't get blood like this without an infection. Scared the crap out of me. But I have been on two lots of antibiotics now and still no change. I really hope and pray you're right about the infection.

[AnnaFiveTowns]

m.youtube.com/watch?v=M_DWNFFgHbE

[AnnaFiveTowns]

Do you have any Cystitis like symptoms? Bladder infections can cause blood in the urine. You need to get it checked out, obviously, but I'll bet it's an infection; they're so common.

[SoftlyCatchyMonkey1]

If you've had ultrasound scans on your bladder and kidneys and they've come back as normal then it's extremely unlikely you've got bladder cancer. Also, pain when you pee is not typically a sign of cancer. They may decide to do a cystoscopy where they put a camera up your urethra and have a look at the bladder wall.

[AnnaFiveTowns]

Sorry, just noticed you said burning pain; so yes, cystitis symptoms.

[AnnaFiveTowns]

I had an infection that lasted for months and months. I was in agony. All the tests came back negative; none of the bog standard antibiotics worked but I was convinced I had an infection. The dr told me I probably had Interstitial Cystitis and referred me to a urologist. The urologist prescribed me what he called " the heavy guns" of antibiotics and within two days of taking them I felt a lot better, having suffered for months. The urologist told me that Trimethoprim is often useless and testing is not accurate. So, please, try not to worry; you probably just need the right antibiotics.

[user1484615313]

Can't tell you all how much this has helped me relax. God bless you all. Been driving myself crazy. Hope you're right and it's just an infection.

[lavenirestanous]

It sounds more like an infection to me. My dad had bladder cancer several years ago - the only symptom was a lot of blood when he peed, very sudden onset, but no pain. He went to his GP the next day and was diagnosed and treated very quickly, thankfully having caught it very early. Pain isn't a typical initial bladder cancer symptom.

[user1484615313]

I did have a cystitis episode just before this all started. But my gp was the one who was very worried with the blood in urine and really made me feel uneasy. Especially when urine was sent to the lab and no infection was found and my symptoms are just like that episode but a little less aggressive. Intestinal cystitis did come up at the appointment but she was still very worried and sent me off to the urologist. Which I'm waiting for now. But now I'm feeling a little less stressed.
Laven- hope your father is doing well and thank you for your reply.

[Blastandtroph]

Gross haematuria is urine with pain (lots of blood in urine) is more likely to be infection based that blood from a tumour which is more commonly only small fragments - where parts of the tumour are detaching. As pp with experience says, there is usually no pain.

[MegaClutterSlut]

A family member has bladder cancer. No pain, only thing he had is one morning he went for a wee and there was loads blood and clots. I agree with others, sounds more like an infection to me