Blood and Wine

I have managed to secure the offer of a cytology test via my GP: Quote the email

"You can certainly have the cytology screen done on the urine. Mr Hammonds' (the Urologist) opinion is that it is too insensitive to be reliable, apart from in very highly malignant cases. This means essentially that whilst a positive test is likely to be significant, a negative test does not reassure either of us that there is not a cancer there."

There are a few things I want to address before deciding whether to have one. Some of these are technical issues, others philosophical. The later need addressing first, else there's no test. However as the technical issues have finite goals and outcomes they can actively be resolved and so take the focus and action. The philosophical issues will resolve themselves automatically by sitting back and relaxing, they cannot be resolved by analysis but more by weight of feeling.

Technical:

• Timing: Take a sample that has a lot of blood and is cloudy and has bits. I note from the initial blood sample there were no casts in the specimen.
• Find data on results relative to stages etc.
• Find data on the specifics of the test. Can it be a DIY process?

Philosophical:
The main issues here are as to the reason for having the test.

• Curiosity
• What would happen next
• What to family think as I'm under pressure to act to their desires and 'benefit'

30th May 09:24 Well I've heard Vyaj has had her final exam plus I'm feeling more positive so I'm inclined to have the cytology just for curiosity. However I will no doubt mull over this change and see what underlies it and consider the consequences. Most of such will be done subconsciously.

31st May 09:50 Have emailed Dr McCormick

6th June 09:33
From: carepathonline.com

Your doctor may order urine cytology if you have blood in your urine and a definite cause of the bleeding has not been identified. The medical name for blood in the urine is hematuria. It has many causes, including strenuous exercise, too much stress, infection, kidney and bladder stones, and even cancer. When there is blood in your urine, it is important to identify what part of your urinary tract the blood is coming from so any problems can be properly diagnosed and treated.

From: wisegeek.com

Another important aspect in the discipline of cytology is examining cell interaction. By studying how cells relate to other cells or to the environment, cytologists can predict problems or examine environmental dangers to cells, such as toxic or cancer-causing substances. In humans and other multi-cellular structures, cytology can examine the presence of too many of one kind of cell, or the lack of enough of a certain kind of cell. In a simple test like a complete blood count, a laboratory can look at white blood cells and identify the presence of an infection, or it may examine a low level of certain types of red blood cells and diagnose anemia.

-:- 10:05 Just emailed the above as follows:
"Hi. I'm about to have a cytology examination of urine to assess if I have cancer of the bladder, as I have haematuria. My 'Doctor' is under the impression that only cancer cells will be looked for.

I found that
"it is important to identify what part of your urinary tract the blood is coming from" from http://www.carepathonline.com/Topic.aspx?Nav=0&Rel=166 and
"of certain types of red blood cells" from your web site.

Accordingly, checking for cancer cells is not the only or better option.

If no cancer cells are found, then knowing where the blood comes form is very significant.

The fact that there is this option to check the red blood cell type means I can provide two samples.

One with obvious (gross) haematuria so that the blood cells can be easily available for analysis and a second, clear sample, as my Dr said the blood may interfere and obscure the cytologist in the search for cancer cells.

Can you please confirm that there are different types of red blood cells and direct me to any on-line or other reference, so I can present such to my Dr.

Thank you"