"Frank Haematorea (which I can never spell!) is scary and one of the standard jokes is 'How can you tell someone who has had Urinary tract cancer – they can't pee in the dark! It is hard not to stress yourself by checking the Ribenna output EVERY time!

Don't panic too readily with blood in the urine, but DO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY even if it only happens once. Pressurise your medics for every test possible but always be aware that the kidney has around 70 miles of tubing and the tiniest self healing aneurism can cause blood in the urine – a blow to the kidneys, a
sudden jolt, strain from lifting, exercise stress can all give blood in the urine.

BUT NEVER assume it will go away – cancer caught early is just a challenge – failure to check due to fear or indolence could prove a death sentence!

The last time I had blood in my urine was last Christmas eve and having already had a radical nefrectomy and ongoing bladder cancer I was convinced this was cancer in the remaining kidney - Christmas was NOT a very happy time for me but I was determined not to blight it for others so I kept quiet – phoning my urology unit at the hospital and speaking daily with the sister and
also having my hand held by CancerBackUp (who were all marvellous) I was slotted into the first flexi clinic available.

I was soooo pleased when they saw redness and what
seemed to be a Ta in the bladder - Hey yup PLEASED to
have bladder cancer!

In for a TURBT a week or two later and it was all clear as the surgeon removed a 1.5cm. crystaline bladder stone which had damaged a capillary causing the haematoria.

No BT this time - TUR = Trans Urithral Reprieve!

I have the crystals, now broken up, in a specimen container
on my desk to remind myself that it isn't always the worst possible outcome!"

Aware of Cancer in 1999
Diagnosed 2001 June!
Radical Nefrectomy 2001.09.05
Ongoing Bladder Cancer
'Beat The Clock' 

Email Greg here