Shirley Norris

People regularly talk about the “strength” of cancer patients. Many of my own friends said that they admired me, that I was a “strong” woman, a “force to be reckoned...

Prior to my cancer diagnosis, me, my hubby and our boys loved to travel. We wanted to see as much of the world as we could. Taking every opportunity that...

May is bladder cancer awareness month! We’ve all been shocked by reading some of the startling statistics like bladder cancer is now the 6th most common cancer, and unfortunately, that...

This week I read a very disturbing report regarding urological cancers and suicide. The statistics that I read I found very distressing. It got me thinking about my own situation...

I had a radical cystectomy just over a year ago. Prior to surgery, I was informed that the surgery would involve the removal of my bladder, cervix, appendix, ureter, part...

So, it’s time for that first annual check-up after my radical cystectomy. I knew what to expect: blood tests, a renogram and a CT scan of the chest and abdomen...

So after 12 months of getting progressively more poorly, weight loss, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, repeat UTI's, blood in urine, high temperatures and profuse sweating. I went to a...

After my radical cystectomy, I was unsure whether I should bathe or shower, with or without my urostomy bag. The truth is, you can do either once you have had...

Having a stoma shouldn't stop us from doing almost all of the things that we previously enjoyed prior to surgery. For me that was travel. But I now had my...

I've had my stoma for exactly one year today and up until two weeks ago, everything first started had no issues at all. Then, I began to feel unwell. I...

So I've had bladder cancer and with it came a Radical Cystectomy. The removal of my bladder along with nearby organs such as appendix, ureters, etc. and I now have...

Bladder cancer is the same as any other disease or illness. In that before receiving a final diagnosis a number of "tests" and/or procedures will generally need to be performed...

There are some days and dates in your life that you will just never forget. Like the birth of your child or the day you got married. Being diagnosed with...

Whether you are awaiting diagnosis, newly diagnosed or are going through treatment, the holiday season seems to emphasize our vulnerability even more. For everyone else everything appears to be perfect...

So, you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and are having a radical cystectomy. Your head is probably in a whirl right now with fear, anxiety, and relief that, finally...

I had a radical cystectomy earlier this year. This involved the removal of my bladder, cervix, appendix, anterior vaginal wall and a number of lymph nodes. I had an ileal...

This time last year I had received my bladder cancer diagnosis and was awaiting my Radical Cystectomy, scheduled for the 30th January. I had the whole holiday season to get through...

So, I had been home from the hospital for a couple of weeks and had been gradually increasing the amount of walking I was doing, firstly around the house: up...

It was roughly three and a half weeks after my radical cystectomy, and my husband had received an invite to go to an awards ceremony to celebrate his 30 years...

I never knew I had a problem with my bladder until I went for a routine pre-op appointment for a surgery I required on my elbow. Numerous straightforward tests were...