The Challenges of Hiring Home Health AidesWhen my first husband had metastatic bladder cancer, our needs for help and support shifted frequently. One week, pain management would be our primary challenge. The next week it would... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How Caregiving Affects EmployersThe moment I became a caregiver to a bladder cancer patient, was when my first husband was diagnosed with metastatic disease. Suddenly, there was so much to do: research treatment... By Renata Louwers2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Caregiving with a "C"Caregivers are starting to get more attention—in the press, in research, and in discussions about healthcare and illness. And I am both happy and relieved to see this. What I... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Too Much and Not Enough HelpWe had just settled into the hospital room when the phone rang. I answered it. “Is this Ms. Khoshroo?” a perky female voice asked. “Yes,” I said, while mentally calculating... By Renata Louwers4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Five Helpful Tips for CaregiversReceiving a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a life-altering experience, not only for the person diagnosed but also for the spouse, child, parent or friend who becomes the person’s... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Two Caregivers Share Their StoriesIn so many ways, caregivers make it possible for people diagnosed with bladder cancer to survive. After I had my TURBT surgery, my mother drove me home from the hospital... By Sarah Watts3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Beginner's Mind and Cancer MindMindfulness has become a very popular concept in recent years as a means of relaxation and remaining anchored in the present moment. It originated in Zen Buddhism as a way... By Renata Louwers2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Caregivers Have a Right to Resist Performing Medical TasksIf you compare our lives in 2018 to 25 years ago, it is stunning how much work has been outsourced to us as consumers. We scan our own groceries; we... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Answer to Your Question: Get a Second Opinion!I’ve been talking to and working with bladder cancer patients and caregivers for five years. I have been a caregiver myself and I am a volunteer patient advocate. Time and... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
I Am a Caregiver!I’ve shared nine pieces about the beginning of my grandfather’s journey with bladder cancer. The scary times, hospital issues, rehab, coming home and life adjustments. To be honest, I’m not... By Katie Golden Migraine4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Diary of a Caregiver: A Year LaterThis is the 9th entry in a series that chronicles my grandfather’s journey with bladder cancer. The following are actual emails or messages in our family’s closed Facebook group where... By Katie Golden Migraine2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Diary of a Caregiver: A New Normal at HomeThis is the 8th entry in a series that chronicles my grandfather’s journey with bladder cancer. The following are actual emails or messages in our family’s closed Facebook group where... By Katie Golden Migraine3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Diary of a Caregiver: Planning to Go HomeThis is the 7th entry in a series that chronicles my grandfather’s journey with bladder cancer. The following are actual emails or messages in our family’s closed Facebook group where... By Katie Golden Migraine5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Start Caring for Yourself TodayWe live in a culture that admires and celebrates hard work. This is a good thing to the extent it inspires us and keeps us motivated. But I believe our... By Renata Louwers2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
A Cancer Caregiver's Reading ListI lost my first husband to bladder cancer in 2014. Since then, I have become a patient advocate. When he was ill, and subsequently in my advocacy work, I have... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Allow Yourself to Be Shocked and Then Craft Your PlanTime and again, I have heard bladder cancer patients and caregivers describe that moment when they received the cancer diagnosis as a stopping of time. They say they had a... By Renata Louwers2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Diary of a Caregiver: Why Won’t This Thing Work?This is the 6th entry in a series that chronicles my grandfather’s journey with bladder cancer. The following are actual emails or messages in our family’s closed Facebook group where... By Katie Golden Migraine3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Remember the Basics of “Patient-Centered” Care“Patient-centered” has become a buzzword in healthcare in the past few years. Doctors and nurses talk about “patient-centered” care at conferences. Research projects— and clinical trials— strive to include a... By Renata Louwers2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Living with the UncertaintyI think living with the uncertainty that bladder cancer presents us is one of the most challenging aspects of the disease. Whether you are diagnosed early stage or late stage... By Renata Louwers2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Why Are We Shocked at the Idea That This Could Be it?Is there much in life you can imagine that’s worse than receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis? Probably not. Somehow, we all know intellectually that we will die one day. That... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments