Veronica
How many times have you heard or seen “blood in the urine” as a warning sign of possible cancer? I’d heard it many, many times. So, at the age of 34, when there was blood in my urine, I called my doctor immediately. His nurse called me back and said that the doctor thought it was just a result of my frequent bladder infections. I instinctively knew better. I changed doctors and was advised by him to see a urologist.

There are certain experiences in our lives that we can recall in detail. At the conclusion of that first cystoscopy, the doctor came to my side and said he’d found a tumor. I asked if it was malignant. He replied, “They nearly always are.” My life changed forever that day. I was a single mom with an eleven-year-old son. The only thing I could think of was dying before he reached the age of 18. I’ll never forget the details of that experience.

I underwent a transurethral resection (TUR) and received confirmation shortly afterward that the tumor was malignant. After the surgery I followed the doctor’s instructions to the letter, except for one. I never missed a cystoscopy or an intravenous pylogram (IVP). I even sought a second opinion, and I read everything I could get my hands on regarding bladder cancer. And what’s the one instruction from my doctor that I ignored? To quit smoking. I tried many times, unsuccessfully. Then, in 1996 during my annual cysto the doctor removed a small recurrence. I quite smoking immediately and since then have been “clean.”

I’ll soon be 61 and my son will be 38. I feel blessed that I had hematuria, and I’m glad that I followed my second doctor’s recommendation to see a urologist. I’ve been around to see my son grow into a fine man, to enjoy my grandson, and to enjoy life each day. However, I never take those days for granted.

Cancer changes your life forever.