Anybody get their diagnosis graded by way of a bladder wash?

@tacoma , yes, my husband’s initial urinalysis cytology said highly aggressive urothelial cell carcinoma and it was sent to Mayo Clinic for a FISH test which supported that. The local urologist ignored that information and after not seeing anything on Cystoscopy, declared him normal! A complete PE a few months later at Mayo Clinic started a proper work up and fast forward 5 years and he has a neobladder and is free of cancer currently. It was a long and winding road from that first urinalysis. There is quite a different track for high vs low grade bladder cancer but they all tend to recur.

Yes ma'am, High grade all the way around:((

I was diagnosed with T1HG over a year ago. I had TURBT & began BCG but had rejection so I went to Mayo & they started me on the gemcitabine/docetaxel instillation treatment last September. There doesn’t seem to be many women with bladder cancer and would like to connect with other women with this form of cancer.

Hi @deb2024, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You're definitely in the right place to converse with other women who have bladder cancer. I also felt like I was one of the only women with BC, and a young woman at that. Age 52 at diagnosis. I also have high grade T1. In fact, I'm going tomorrow for my cystoscopy. It will be 3 years this coming November since my diagnosis.
I'm not happy we have this disease, but glad there's a place we can go for info and to "meet" others in our same situation.

I’m a woman into my third year without any new cancer. I made it through about 13 BCG treatments. I’ve graduated to every six month checks now.
I don’t know any other women personal who have this only men.
I guess we are special. 😊

Thanks for responding! Yes, you were quite young. I was 69 when it was finally diagnosed. I’m grateful for this chat site!

I’ve had 12 treatments of gem/doc and will find out at next appointment the next plan. Yes, we must be special😁

Definitely special 😁 If I have no tumors today I will have also made it 2 years and 10 months without any more cancer 🙏 praying this morning.
I have had at least 26 BCG treatments. Today I will also find out if I'm done with those 🙏🙏🙏 or if I need 3 more. I'll update later today if possible. Peace Love and Prayers for all of us 🙏😇✝️

Praying for you!

Hi. I was diagnosed at age 34 with bladder tumor…the second youngest my doc at the time had ever treated. I was “lucky” to have gross hematuria. When I called my gyn doc he said don’t worry about it…just another uti. I knew instinctively that this was different and pursued it with my primary doc who referred me for a cysto. Reoccurrence at age 50. Last cysto was 2020 (number 50!) and uro doc said I could quit having them.

I’m now 77 and have been having rust colored urine off and on for a couple of weeks. Urinalysis yesterday showed high level of blood in urine. Have to have urogram and cysto. I feel like I’m starting all over again.