We are all Passing Travelers…
In May of this year, 2011, I was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder. Tomorrow, November 12th, 2011, I will have my twelfth chemo. See below for a simple description of what cancer of the bladder is. Later, in other posts, I will try to give multiple descriptions of this, and possibly other, type(s) of cancer. The problem with “my cancer” was, or is, that initially it was diagnosed late and wrong. I was living in Spain at the time of feeling more and more sick every day. Looking back, I think the cancer may have developed over probably a period of even ten years. At the time of developing this disease I was subject to great degrees of stress. I am convinced now that stress can develop also cancer. These ten years were dominated by “feelings of physical discomfort”, pains everywhere. Nobody could ever find something. We lived in France, from a medical point of view, a sophisticated country, and even until recently they could not find anything wrong with me. This despite the fact that I lost significantly in weight and in physical energy. In Spain I started to show blood in my urine and went to my physician, Dr. Bernadette Veeger, with her practice Morche, Andalusia. She carried out some blood tests which were all negative. Anyone could have known that blood in the urine is most likely related to either a form of cysts or cancerous material in the bladder. In the end she finally send me to an urologist, Dr. Eduardo Sanchez de Badajoz, of the Santa Elena Clinic located in Torremolinos, Andalusia. Although I had an appointment with Dr. Eduardo in his clinic I had to wait for three and a halve hours before it was my turn. By that time it was well in siesta and the moment I entered the office of Dr. Sanchez his telephone rang and I heard him apologize to his wife for him being late for lunch but that he now would be ready in ten minutes time. Dr. Sanchez carried out a echogram and placed a finger in my rectum to investigate the prostate gland. His diagnosis was that I “suffered” from a degree of prostatitis and he prescribed antibiotics. Dr. Sanchez found it too early and too expensive for me to undergo a CT scan (I was insured against these sort of things)… The presence of blood in the urine continued also after the first range of antibiotics after which Dr. Sancheze decided to prescribe the same antibiotics treatment once more. Still no change or improvement in my condition and Dr. Veeger suggested to give it some, months, more time to see if there was an improvement with time and, if not, for me to back to Dr. Sanchez. By that time my wife decided we lost enough time and made arrangements to go back to our native country. I was ill and in a form of being from a different planet, not functional, going from one day to the next. My new physician in my home country made a rectal investigation and did send me to the local hospital to see an urologist. The urologist made me undergo a CT scan and a day or two later I was phoned by the hospital to come and see the urologist. He explained carefully that they saw a tumor in the top of my bladder about 6cm in circumference that was probably proliferated into the upper muscles and possibly the surrounding lymph nodes. I am considering legal action against Dr. Veeger and Dr. Sanchez. The outlook for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is less favorable because achieving a complete cure is not often possible. An estimated 50% of people who are diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer will die within five years.
Read the further articles of my treatments since the last diagnoses of my condition and the further treatment.
Bladder cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in urinary bladder.The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine; it is located in the pelvis. The most common type of bladder cancer begins in cells lining the inside of the bladder. A study suggested that by consuming high amount of fluid, you can reduce your risk for bladder cancer.
What are main symptoms of bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer characteristically causes blood in the urine; this may be visible to the naked eye or detectable only by microscope. Other possible symptoms include pain during urination, frequent urination or feeling the need to urinate without results.
What are main sources of bladder cancer?
Tobacco smoking (I never, or hardly, smoked) is the main known contributor to urinary bladder cancer, about 50% cases. 30% of bladder tumors probably result from occupational exposure in the workplace to carcinogens such as benzidine. Occupations at risk are bus drivers, rubber workers, motor mechanics, leather (including shoe) workers, blacksmiths, machine setters and mechanics. Hairdressers are thought to be at risk as well because of their frequent exposure to permanent hair dyes.
