Hello,
Short version: Please let me know which hospital in Connecticut has a good urology cancer treatment group.
Long version (mostly venting, please feel free to ignore). I've been reading through the posts and found a common theme of "make sure to choose a good center." I haven't been diagnosed yet, but I am at high risk following radiation treatment for cervical cancer, 9 years ago. I have already been too passive before being diagnosed at that time, trusting doctors who kept saying "there is nothing wrong" when I complained about recurrent pain. I lost almost 2 years with "let's see you again in 6 months." Nine years have passed since that ordeal, and for the past 4 years I've been experiencing pain in the lower part of the abdomen. An MRI done 4 years ago showed just some liquid in the abdomen, but I was told not to worry about it, and I accepted that I have to leave with the pain, a common long-term side effect of pelvic radiation. Recently, a new symptom has appeared: blood in the urine, once two weekends ago, and again this past Sunday. Urine tests showed no infection. Blood, pain - it is all too familiar. All these years I thought that if the cancer comes back in any shape or form, I will not skip a heartbeat, but when I saw that little string of blood in the toilet, my heart just stopped. Then I thought that maybe it was just a small tear, maybe because of dryness or something. However, when it happened again two days ago, it was more that a string of blood, it happened on two consecutive occasions, the first time bright red, and the second time brownish. I try to calm myself with the thought that it happened both times in the weekend, when I do more physical effort, vacuuming and cleaning. Today's test didn't show even microhematuria. But I know how sneaky cancer is, it has a mind of its own. I'd like to increase the my odds by teaming up with an experienced team. I live by myself and just moved here, so I have no support. My chance is to catch his early, or else I will not be able to go through extensive treatments.
Thanks so much for your time and advice.
Ann TJ