41 yr old female, newly diagnosed

7 years 11 months ago #50940 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic 41 yr old female, newly diagnosed
Karen, Welcome to our community and I am also sorry that you need to be here. You have read enough by now to know that while not what you want to be dealing with that your DX is one that can be managed and has a very high survival rate. I hate that you are so young to be dealing with this but happy you found it early and have a great helpmate in your husband. I was married for many years to a man who worked for the government in a job that caused us to relocate often so I know what it is like. I know it is not the same but we would love to be your online support group if you like. Just join in and ask questions and complain like the rest of us. We are here.

Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society

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7 years 11 months ago #50939 by karenp
41 yr old female, newly diagnosed was created by karenp
I have been lurking on the forum for a few weeks now since my diagnosis. Many of the posts and responses have comforted me so thank you for that.

We moved to Morgantown, WV in July '15 and I finally got around to seeing a family doctor to get a refill on my synthroid in Feb when I complained of random, unexplained incontinence and UTI symptoms. I was sent for an ultrasound where a bladder tumor was detected. I had a cystoscopy and surgery less than 2 weeks later and a 5.8 X 3.5 X 1.5 cm tumor was removed. Mytomycin was administered post op. Pathology revealed the tumor was non-invasive but high grade. I started the BCG this past week- the typical once weekly for 6 weeks and then maintenance for who knows how long.

My husband is a surgeon and has been very helpful in explaining things to me in layman's terms which has been a blessing. This whole thing is just a shock. I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 16, she was 44, so I have always felt that something like this would happen to me at some point. We have 2 children- 12 and 16 and I feel like history is repeating itself and I am really scared.

I am being treated at WVU. I am trying to remain optimistic and positive since that is my nature but inside I am really scared and I feel very alone. We have no family or friends close by. I work FT from home so the relationships I have with colleagues are distant. I feel uncomfortable burdening people. I guess I say all of that just to emphasize how meaningful and helpful reading the posts and the interactions of the members of this group have been to me thus far. While I am not thrilled to be here ;-) I am thrilled to meet people who have traveled this road. Thank you.

-Karen

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