A New Neobladder: Life Goes On
Once I had the staples and all the drainage paraphernalia removed, I was ready to start living my “new” life …
Jim Van Horne
Surgery & Recovery Complications
When it comes to surgery and recovery, there can be complications. And guess what? I couldn’t dodge the bullet. Discharged …
Recovering from Surgery: Roll with the Punches
The hardest part about recovering from surgery, for me, was allowing my body to heal. I wanted to be better …
My Post-Operation Hospital Stay
The hospital wants to get you home as soon as possible following surgery. The first 24 hours was a blur, …
Christmas Cancer
It’s been said the once someone gets cancer, the whole family gets it. Truer words were never spoken. I guess …
When 13 Hours Feels Like 90 Seconds
March 30th couldn’t get here fast enough; I just wanted to get my cystectomy done. Eight years of losing battles …
Hurry Up and Wait
I didn’t have a lot of time to think about the surgery because March 17 was approaching fast. I tried …
Getting Ready for a Life-Changing Event
The thought of surgery had always terrified me. What scared me the most was the recovery and the pain …
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
I naively thought that after going through BCG, “the gold standard treatment” for bladder cancer, that I’d get the …
I Wasn’t About to Fold My Tent
I thought I’d take a break from my journey to give you a little information about what my life …
A Rollercoaster Ride Like No Other
I had been fighting bladder cancer for close to seven years. It was a rollercoaster ride like no other. One …
I Hate Cancer
Last week was a tough one. My neighbor, David is a young 82-year-old. He’s tall lanky and bold, not afraid …
My Epidural Experience
Epidurals are used in a variety of treatments in the hospital, including TURBTs. I had already had one during …
Not As “Sexy” As Other Cancers
I didn’t sleep well Monday night, I was worried about my Tuesday morning meeting. It was scheduled for 10 and …
First Results Appointment After My TURBT
My wife Melanie was with me for our first results appointment after my TURBT and six weeks of BCG. …
You Want to Get Rid of the Cancer, Don’t You?
I thought I’d be ready to go back to work after my TURBT procedure. I was released from hospital on …
A Slow Process
Dr. Zlotta came to see me in the recovery room after my TURBT a few minutes later, he was …
Am I Dreaming?
Walking into an operating room for the first time can be an intimidating experience. The “theater” I entered at Mt. …
A Very Uncertain Future
There’s nothing more shocking than to be told you have cancer. My wife Melanie and I drove home in …
The Journey
Bladder cancer doesn’t care about boundaries. Doesn’t matter what street, town, city, state or country you live in. It doesn’t …