Bladder Tumor question

[Anjita]

Hi everyone,
i have a question for all of you.
I have ic and vulvodynia.
My mom's dad had bladder cancer and died.
My dad's dad has bladder cancer and had surgery twice already to get it cut out.
My mom has trouble with her bladder.
My aunt has just found out (yesterday) that she has a bad bladder tumor.
She has been running to the Urologist for the last few years...numerous cystos...
Can a bladder tumor just come up over night? I mean why has the urologist never seen anything?
Now my worry is: Does bladder cancer run in the family? Am i in a bigger risk of getting it now as well? Or my mom? It's scaring me sooo much!!!
I had my last cysto over a year ago. How many times do you guys get checked out?
Are there any connections with ic and bladder cancer?

I am thinking about getting my bladder checked out soon! Just so i feel better...but yeah..i am just also worried that i will be in pain for a while after that because it irritates my bladder and urethra! What would you guys do?

Would love to hear from you.
Not sure if i put this thread into the right area...if not please forgive me...sorry...wasnt sure.

All the best to all of you
anja

[ICNDonna]

If you have concerns, I think it would be a good idea to be checked. At least talk it over with your uro.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[GriffsMommy]

I agree with Donna, I would talk to your uro. Let him know about all of the people in your family that have had bladder cancer and ask him if that puts you at increased risk. He should be able to tell you if it is worth the flare that you will get from the in office cysto to check for a tumor and should be able to tell you how often to get checked. Try to stay calm, I know it's scary when things run in your family but that doesn't automatically mean you're going to get bladder cancer as well. :grouphug:

[lisabar36]

Hi, my dad had bladder cancer more then once. He is now considered cured from bladder cancer, but he battled with it for years. I have not had a cysto since 2002, I want to have my bladder checked out as soon as I recover from my hysterectomy. I want to have it checked also to see if my hunners ulcers came back. I did have a pelvic and abdominal cat scan a few months ago that was normal. I asked the xray tech if it shows the bladder and she said yes. But on my reading, I didn't see anywhere that it was a way to determine bladder abnormalities. So I also want a cysto for piece of mind for more then one reason.

[lisabar36]

I also want to mention, I did have one a year ago in office but this doc put the scope in and immediately removed it, I was not fond of her and I don't see how she could of even seen anything that fast. I mean she literally put it in and removed it that fast. She is the same uro that every month I went to see and she handed me the same script for elavil not knowing she gave it to me the month before, and the month before, so she obviously did not keep notes, or read them. :)

[Anjita]

Hi everyone,

thanks for your replies. Yeah i will have to check it out for sure...i know i will be in a flare after that but i have been ok lately and hope that i will recover quick from it. I hope that i will find a nice uro as i just moved to Australia and havent been at a urologist yet.
I am very scared of bladder cancer.
The most scary thing is that everything comes at once. My mom has so much on her shoulders...my dad has depressions, my mom has a store to run, my mom has to take care of my grandma being confused and having alzheimers....my moms brother is blind due to diabetes and now my moms sister has bladder cancer. What the f...is going on. ??? Why does this always affect good people...why do the bad people not get it for being bad????

Anyway..yeah i have to get this checked out to make myself feel better.

Thanks guys..i am glad to have you here....

[TinaM]

I was just wondering whether cancer can also be detected through blood tests? I would think that if blood work is abnormal, the white/red blood cells are out of range, then that would probably indicate that there is some abnormal activity going on in your body and therefore a reason to have the bladder checked. What do you think?

I would rather have a CT Scan or ultrasound done then to have another cystoscopy which might give you a flare. I may be the one person who does not believe like others, but going inside your internal organs, like your bladder with drugs and instruments, I think it is a bad idea. Unless one really has to and there are no other options, I believe I would try the less invasive methods out there which could possibly take your worries away.

Wish you all the best.

[dg2901]

A cytology exam of urine is used to detect cancer and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. You simply give a clean-catch urine sample and the Dr sends it out to pathology to be examined.
My URO sends out my urine sample once per year for a cytology screen.
I have no family history of cancer.

D

[TinaM]

I wish my doctor had checked everything before saying that I probably have IC. I was never checked for any inflammatory disease of the urinary tract. I had a colonoscopy, andoscopy, ultrasound of the uterus and a cystoscopy done. Would you know what is the name of the disease which corresponds with inflammatory disease of the urinary tract. I am now trying to learn as much as I can about urinary tract disease.

Another question for anyone that might know the answer? Would a colonoscopy detect a spastic colon? I had a colonoscopy done and my gastrointernist didn't say that I had a spastic colon, however, sometimes I wonder if my bladder problem maybe originating in my colon. When I have sharp pinches in my lower abdomen, it doesn't come from the bladder but more so on the sides, right in front of the hip bone. It could be the ovaries or urinary tract or colon......I honestly have no idea. I think these days the patient has to do a lot of the figuring out, otherwise, you could spend years running to the doctors. A proper diagnosis is the first step, I think.

[ICNDonna]

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is an inflammatory disease of the urinary tract.

A colonoscopy would not necessarily detect a spastic colon, but it might. The medication given before the scope is inserted does relax the colon.

Donna

[Anjita]

I am super scared of the Cysto that is for sure. I am doing good at the moment and really dont want it to get worse again. Well i hope that if my bladder acts up that it only will be for a bit and then calm down again and recover.....So i hope the pain will only be temporary....
My aunt actually did a urine test once a year to check for cancer.....!!!!
She had the most aggressive cancer you can imagine. She had to get the bladder removed and needs chemo now as well.... yeah pretty taff......the only way she motivates herself is by saying: At least i can sit on the floor now without worrying to get a bladder infection...well yeah...i guess she is trying to be strong.
Anyway...do you think with a scan you can see as much as you can with a cysto??? If a scan would be an option and it would be as efficient as a cysto then i would prefer that.

Anyone knows....???
Talk later...All the best
ANJA:hi:

[barbclay]

anjata- I understand oh so much. I have IC, and both of my parents have had bladder cancer-my dad twice. It is very scary. I don't know if that gives us a greater risk for it?!?