Cynthia,
I guess I was one of the "lucky?" ones. When I had blood in my urine it was a Saterday morning. So much blood I went to ER. The Dr did a sonagram, and bingo, you could see three superficial tumors.
Your right, I heard from several Medical Professionals that "if you have to get cancer this is a good one". Really???
I did go back to the ER to thank the doctor who investigated to the source of bleeding, instead of saying it must be an infection.
My brother was dx'd with bladder cancer two years earlier, but I was still shell shocked. On the other hand I had a "heads up" on what to do, and where to get info. I found this site for him,
his doctor treated him with antibiotics (three cycles) before sending him to a Urologist.He had to get a neo bladder right away. It has been 7 years for him - he is doing fine - I went the BCG route (since it was Ta then CIS a year later and 4 years (so far) for me. (thank heavens for the three month check ups)
Thanks again to everyone who contributes to this site!
Nancy