Cystoscopy today - a bit of a shock

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The procedure itself was no worse that a smear test, but I was pretty sure they'd just tell me I had some sort of infection. But they found an area of inflammation that needs further investigation and they had to warn me that it could possibly be cancer.

I'm 56, I've never smoked and I honestly thought bladder cancer was something that affected elderly male smokers. OK, so I realise its not confirmed as cancer yet, but I'm reeling a bit.

The hospital is going to be rebook me for an appointment in a few weeks time to remove the dodgy bit, send it for testing and take it from there.

I'm not sure what I'm posting for, probably just a hand hold.

I didn't want to read and run - please know I am thinking of you. I recently had a lump removed that I was convinced was a cyst - I didn't expect to be warned that it might be cancer. It was a very long wait for biopsy results but getting the all clear earlier this week was a huge relief. I truly hope it is the same for you. You are welcome to PM me if it would help.

I also didn’t want to read and run, OP.

The warning may be part of a necessary protocol. I hope so!

But on the chance that it is cancer, it sounds very early, and early BC is usually very easy to deal with. It is scraped out and perhaps followed up with local chemo (so minimal side effects). All of this is fairly minimal. When caught early the statistics are very much on your side.

I won’t bore you with more because I wonder whether you also wrote earlier? I don’t remember usenames! Don’t want to repeat myself.

I hope you get your next appt quickly. Waiting is the worst. But it doesn’t like an issue for your health.

Please keep writing, if only to vent. I will remember you now.🌺🌺

Not sure if this will reassure you but I had exactly the same thing and mine was diagnosed as interstitial cystitis- I’ve always suffered with recurrent UTIs and bladder issues my whole life (I’m 45) and the patches of inflammation were put down to that. I was given amitriptyline and vaginal oestrogen and they’ve really helped - I was previously on daily long term antibiotics since I was 14 but they were giving me invasive Candida. So inflammation doesn’t always mean cancer.

I'm 50, female and a non smoker. Last year after recurrent UTI symptoms I had a cystoscopy and a small tumour was found. It was the shock of my life.

It was non-muscle invasive, removed by surgery and I had the Mitomycin wash which is a type of chemo. No side effects other than sore to pee and blood in urine for a while.

Subsequent checks in the past year have been clear. I'm optimistic that it's all behind me but you never know.

Feel free to PM me with questions. I hope my experience will reassure you. Good luck.

Very best wishes, @hippospot

With experience of BC in our family, I am optimistic for you, and hopeful that this is the worst case scenario for OP.

My husband had urinary problems so had the camera in to have a look. He had multiple angry red patches. We both feared cancer but biopsies showed no sign of it. He has been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and is on Amitriptyline and Mirabegron which are helping.