Question Title: Possibility of Bladder Cancer

Last year and the year prior (1996/1997) I experienced over 12 UTIs (7 last year alone). However, 3 times this year, I have had symptoms of a UTI, but urine cultures have shown no growth each time, despite there being blood and white cells. Most recently, I had gross hematuria, and the blood looked somewhat "fibrous". I was treated for a UTI, but the initial culture came back with "no infection". I re-tested with the same result. Several weeks later (last week), symptoms subsided but white cells remain in urine.

I am booked in to see a urologist, but I unfortunately have to wait another month (I've been waiting for about two, the first of which I had persistent UTI symptoms like pain/frequency, and pyridium did not even help). I am curious about the possibilty/probability of bladder cancer. I am a 29 year old female chemist, who smokes about 2-3 cigarrettes/day. I don't expect a diagnosis, but I'd like to know what type of risk category I am in, and what other types of physical bladder ailments exist that may be causing my symptoms in order that I may research them further prior to my first urologist visit.

I thank you for your time and any information you can provide.

dale

Recurrent UTI in women is a common problem, but blood in the urine is not normal. You need urological evaluation for frequency-dysuria, recurrent UTI and hematuria (blood in your urine).

Although most causes of hematuria are benign, urinary tract bleeding may signal some serious disease. Diagnostic possibilities include urinary tract infection, urolithiasis and various cancers. The list of investigations includes intravenous pyelogram (IVP), cystoscopy and urinary cytology. Even though you are young, smoking history does puts you in a high risk category for bladder cancer. It increases the risk for bladder cancer by 1.6 fold or more. Bladder cancers are rare in patients younger than 25 years (<3% of all bladder cancers). The limited experience suggests that they are less aggressive and have better prognosis than their > 25 year counterparts.

This information is provided for general medical information purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.

The Henry Ford Hospital Department of Urology has experience in the evaluation and treatment of problems such as you describes. They would be most interested in helping you. You can reach them through our toll-free number (1-800-653-6568). We can also arrange local accommodations through this number if this is your need.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-A.T.
*keyword: Hematuria, cytology, TCC

[The Urology Forum]      [The Urology Forum Archives]