My Journey

I was 54 when I found out I had bladder cancer. I had been going to the same OBGYN office for 25 years. The last couple of years going to this office I kept telling the doctor something isn't right. I was tired all the time and my right side was hurting 90% of the day. I would get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and would have to push like having a baby and would expel some ungodly looking things. She told me "well you know you are getting older and your body is changing". I thought ok I am just going through menopause. Oh boy the big change.

Not normal after all

Another year went on numerous UTIs and 3 ultrasounds. Nothing. My body is changing. I had stopped the monthly blessing approximately 2 years before all of this so when I woke up one night bleeding profusely I was shocked. I called her office and once again went for an ultrasound. This time she had me sent to her office for results. Please excuse me for what I'm about to say but I was really mad by this point. She says "well I cannot find any female problems, but, we found a mass on your bladder that you really need to check into." I said "are you frigging kidding me" (only not so nice), I have been complaining for 2 1/2 years something is wrong I have had more UTIs then any one person should allow and now you ask me this. I said what kind of mass. No answers. She says I will get you into a Urologist right away.

It all started moving fast

This is where it all started moving so fast all you can do is hold on for the ride. The infection I had was so bad he could not do the scope just yet so he gave me prescription for an antibiotic and set me up with a CT scan. A week later I went in for my scope and the doctor (who has a very dry disposition) came back in after I got dressed and says ok. (Now remember the word cancer has never been brought up and I guess I was very naive) "You have a very large mass on the right and to the center of your bladder. I do surgery on Monday mornings I strongly suggest you set it up for this coming Monday." I ask the dumbest question on earth. "How likely is it that this is cancer". This is where the light went out and the room started spinning. He said it is most definitely cancer and the mass is large. We need to do this soon and find out what kind of cancer this is.

Scared beyond belief

Monday morning came I told myself a thousand times I wasn't going but I did. The surgery took almost 3 hours to remove a mass the size of a grapefruit. Good news is it was low grade contained strictly to the bladder. It took 3 surgeries, 2 rounds of 6 BCG treatments and so far so good. I go back June 1st for my 6 month check up. Scared beyond belief. I don't think that will ever change.

I am very blessed to have a great Urologist and now I am making it my goal in life to make him laugh.

Thank you for listening.
Lynda

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