Empowerment, Empathy & UnderstandingEmpowerment. What does it mean? At its core, empowerment enables individuals or groups to gain greater control over their lives, making decisions that positively affect their well-being. But for someone...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
When Intravesical Chemotherapy Takes Your Breath AwayThe end of March 2021 began a whirlwind that consumed my life. I didn't realize at the time, but we were entering brand new territory in Mom's battle. While I...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Finding Peace in the DistanceA cancer diagnosis is never easy. It changes everything. Upon hearing the words and realizing, "I have cancer," it can feel as though time has stopped completely. Or alternatively, the...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
When Your Mom is Stronger Than ChemotherapyAfter restarting Mom's intravesical chemotherapy, things seemed to go pretty smoothly, at least from my perspective. We had fallen into a kind of routine during those 7 weeks, and Mom...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
The "Other Bladders"It's bladder cancer awareness month, and as you know: Our Bladders Matter! But what if it's not your bladder? Now, this isn't as strange as it might sound. What I...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Boats, Bridges, and Bags: The Unexpected EmpowermentAmsterdam in the summer is an amazing place to be. When the sun is shining, it really is the most beautiful city. With sunlight bouncing off the boats cruising on...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
A Secret Shame: Sharing the NewsI received the news that my mother had cancer when living abroad and studying for a master's degree. Hearing the words, "I have cancer," felt like a punch in the...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Bladder Cancer: Riding an Emotional RollercoasterHearing the news that someone you love has cancer is the beginning of an emotional rollercoaster. For anyone in the same position as I was when I first heard the...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Restarting Chemo with an Angry BladderMom restarted her chemotherapy instillations 2 weeks after the first attempt. The 2-plus hour drive from Manteca to Palo Alto seemed like an eternity. We knew anything could hold us...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Mom's First Intravesical Chemo InstillationAt the end of January 2021, Mom had a sleep study in the same town we had driven into for her BCG treatments. I noticed appointments were ramping up. It...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
The TURBT Before Chemo2021 rang in as most New Year's do. Instead of silly resolutions, we would forget days or weeks later, Mom and I were focused on her bladder cancer battle. ...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
The Art of a Phone CallI recently discussed how I could offer support while living overseas. Living abroad and being unable to physically be there during my Mother's cancer journey was difficult. But I did...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
SadnessI lost my husband of 34 years on October 31st of this year, just over 2 years after him receiving a cancer diagnosis on September 29th, 2020. Our world was...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
When Lifesaving Information Comes Too LateContent Note: This article mentions abuse. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider reading our mental health resources page. Since I was a baby boy, I remember my...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
From My Son: Stay or Go? Helplessness or Hope?The weeks and months after my Mother's bladder cancer diagnosis was even more challenging than those first few days. I had been able to search more calmly through information on...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
From My Son: Dealing with My Mom's Bladder Cancer DiagnosisHow do you break the news of your diagnosis to your adult children? That question is hard enough to answer when your children live locally. But if your children live...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Per Mom: On Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)Mom always told me that she loved how I explained things. She said I had a way of making people understand. An understanding was something that was sorely lacking in...Reactions0reactionsComments16 comments
Treating Mom with BCGAbout 10 days after Mom's successful TURBT procedure, her oncology surgeon began her on a regimen of BCG. Fortunately, the progression of the cancer after her TURBT showed stage 1...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Back From a TURBT: Caregivers and CathetersMom's second attempt and first successful transurethral resection of a bladder tumor occurred about 10 days after the first unsuccessful attempt. I was so unbelievably nervous on the way to...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
TURBT Is an Acronym I Know Too WellIt seemed like no time from when we finally got Mom's bladder cancer diagnosis that she was scheduled for the first surgery. The very word surgery made my skin crawl...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
