43 and diagnosed : I am new here, so... - Fight Bladder Cancer

Fight Bladder Cancer

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43 and diagnosed

Matthewwebb profile image
25 Replies

I am new here, so hello everybody :)

I had blood in my urine for about two weeks before going to docs, another 2 week wait for the camera team. not sure how long I have to wait for the op at Cheltenham. Also my cancer looked like white coral anybody else?

Matthew

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Matthewwebb profile image
Matthewwebb
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25 Replies
GeoffCooper profile image
GeoffCooper

A sea anemone wafting in the current ! I had mine removed in November 2008,six weeks after spotting the first drop of blood in my urine. Best advice, as all cases are different is to get a second (or third) opinion. Different consultants have different agendas. I still have my bladder ! Good luck.

westseajoe profile image
westseajoe

wow i never got to actually see my cancer- my cousin in New Jersey saw his and said it looked like broccoli.....never mentioned the color. Where is Cheltenham? I am guessing England. Had my first op in 2012, and then a follow up 'look see', and they removed a tiny bit more. Mine was spread around quite a bit but not thru the muscle wall. My surgeon told me in some cases where its a minor thing, they just remove and do not treat with BCG. For me is was 6 weeks of BCG, once a week, then 3 months off, then a bladder inspection and so on. I will be up for my 6th round of BCG ( once a week for 3 weeks) and after the 7th round, only the bladder inspection once a year. Reducing sugars and starches is a good thing as well as using anything that helps such as asparagus, Tumeric, plenty of water ( with about 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar) and add mushrooms to your diet. There are a few supplements you might try too. best of luck!

Matthewwebb profile image
Matthewwebb in reply to westseajoe

indeed Cheltenham is in England Gloucestershire. I instantly decided to stop smoking and drinking when seeing the tumor. reduced sugar and meat intake loaded up on water ( good advice about cider apple vinegar ) juicing broccoli with ginger and tumeric every day ! Also visualising T cells attacking the tumor :) positive attitude makes a world of difference. what supplements should I try? I know about vitamin C therapy through Andrew Saul mega vitamin man !

westseajoe profile image
westseajoe in reply to Matthewwebb

you might even look into something called ip6- a supplement

i do not drink but i do smoke- tried to quit but instead i switched to American Spirit- has no additives- and i also smoke much less- however i understand smoking could be the reason i developed it in first place= btw- add a bit of black pepper to the tumeric- i heard a dr say the pepper activates the tumeric- ps here in Seattle we are having something of an England week- going to be cool overcast and raining for the next 5 days!

Matthewwebb profile image
Matthewwebb in reply to westseajoe

That's a British summer you're having:)

Thanks for the advice ip6 and black pepper.

Maz1949 profile image
Maz1949 in reply to Matthewwebb

Do you add turmeric to your meals?

Matthewwebb profile image
Matthewwebb in reply to Maz1949

As much as possible yes , very good juiced with ginger and apples :)

Paul1485 profile image
Paul1485

I am 67 and had the op ( sorry procedure) to remove the tumour in March 2015. It was picked up by a diabetic nurse from a blood test who thought there was something wrong with my liver. I viewed the tumour on a computer screen where it was enlarged to look like a bunch of green grapes. I was both horrified and fascinated. Yesterday I was given yet another 'all clear' at Beckenham and feel really good. I think the wait between the camera and the procedure was around 6 weeks. Good luck to you. The waiting can be the worst part.

Matthewwebb profile image
Matthewwebb in reply to Paul1485

Thanks paul, Glad to hear someone else was facinated by the image ! agreed the waiting is the worst bit, but going to put my efforts into eating well , exercise and plenty of water of course a PMA helps!

ben05 profile image
ben05

Hi Paul, similar story to you; 41, blood in urine. Cystoscopy at Charing Cross hospital in London, and I saw my "coral" waving about. Admitted 2 weeks later, and the tumor was removed. I was in for 2 nights, and experienced some very sharp acute pains after the op when the pain-killers wore off, but no painkillers since the time I was discharged. I feel about as lucky as one can in this situation, as the tumour was low grade and non-invasive.

westseajoe profile image
westseajoe in reply to ben05

ben- wow u got pain killers- i didnt get any- but then again i didnt have any pain except the annoying cath was in me for the next 3 days! RRRRRRR! I also never got to see my tumor(s)

PaMul profile image
PaMul

Good that you got it checked and are increasing the veggies, water and turmeric. All good stuff. Mine looked like a little sea anemone 😊 In January 2016 happily non invasive so far but persistent I needed 4 TURBT's to make sure it was all gone ( came back for the third). I'm now doing maintenance chemo with mitomycin (8 weeks weekly then a break and monthly for a couple of years). The latest great book I've found is Radical Remission by Dr Kelly A Turner. Good luck and look after yourself and get good support around you.

Best wishes we'll keep everything crossed that it's early stage.

westseajoe profile image
westseajoe in reply to PaMul

ever hear of BCG- a weakened form of TB? supposed to be the gold standard in treating BC

PaMul profile image
PaMul in reply to westseajoe

BCG is the next stage up and I would have got it if I'd had a reaction to mitomycin - mitomycin isn't a picnic but so far has worked. Next cystoscopy 8 June. Fingers crossed 🤞

westseajoe profile image
westseajoe in reply to PaMul

is the mitomycin infused into the bladder?

Parker550 profile image
Parker550 in reply to westseajoe

HI its injected via the catheter that'll be there by a large syringe. For me it was in for an hour and I had 15 mins front back sides etc before it was drained. Then had to drink lots and pee......erm that's the worst bit......felt like hot acid with glass fragments....nice...anyways beats the possible alternative!!! Best of luck....

PaMul profile image
PaMul in reply to westseajoe

Yes it's inserted into the bladder and you have to keep it in for two hours and then pee it out.

Not drinking anything beforehand / evening before helps last the two hours and then starting to drink water / tea an hour and a half in helps relieve the sting when it comes out.

Same procedure as BCG I believe. It's worked so far 🙂

Parker550 profile image
Parker550

Arrrg just re read the post....it was the BCG for me not the mitomycin.....however, if its in the bladder directly I'm pretty sure it will be the same procedure....sorry for any confusion.....I was led to believe the BCG was standard stuff? Best wishes...

westseajoe profile image
westseajoe in reply to Parker550

was told the BCG was the gold standard for bladder cancer- i imagine both are good treatments

Matthewwebb profile image
Matthewwebb

update :) Turbt performed on Monday 17th 8am @ Cheltenham Royal . Two cm tumor described as "superficial" not invasive. Out the door @ 4 pm !

Drinking water , lots! back to work next day back filling a hand dug trench , managed a good half a day, got to pay bills!

Just the wait for grading now ..... how do you all deal with this cancer anxiety ?

All the best x

Mrs-MJ profile image
Mrs-MJ

45, female and just had my cystoscopy yesterday, there it was coral floating near a ureter. Surgery booked for end of August. Still in shock as only had blood in urine 2 weeks ago.

😒

RAMSEYMAC1912 profile image
RAMSEYMAC1912 in reply to Mrs-MJ

Good Luck stay strong God Bless you .

Deni52 profile image
Deni52

my husband had the same (other than the blood in urine) his biopsy came back fine even though the consultant was sure it was malignant, hard as it is try to be positive and get on with things as normally as you can we can't pre guess these things. Saying a prayer for your peace and wellbeing.

RAMSEYMAC1912 profile image
RAMSEYMAC1912

They said my partners looked like a cauliflower a very aggressive one things have just gone from bad to worse for him wishing you all the luck in the world 🤞

cancer3 profile image
cancer3

hi matthew. i went through the same thing. in 2011 i had 23 barnacles thats what they looked like. 2010 i had kidney cancer. removed. 2011 bladder removed and prostate. the cancer in my bladder was so server that couldnt give me chemo. so they had to remove my bladder. hope yours is not so similer.

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