Community Health Leaders
In order to stay up to date on the latest treatments, drug discovery, clinical studies, and how to cope with bladder cancer every day, BladderCancer.net brings you frequent articles, blogs, opinions, and advice from health leaders and professional medical experts.
Current health leaders
Anita Brown
Anita was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine small cell bladder tumour at age 46. She lives with her husband, Tim, their son, Ashleigh and their fur babies: Sherlock the dog, Ollie, Fuggers & Moma Cat the cats, and not forgetting Barney the bunny. Read more.
Nick Chadd
Nick Chadd was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer just before the UK going into its first Lockdown due to Covid19. The diagnosis itself hit Nick like a truck; he had little idea that things were that bad until he was told ‘the news’. Read more.
Dan Franke
Cancer survivor, Wait! strike that, Cancer Warrior! Have two primary cancers and heart and other assorted health issues. Prostate cancer stage IV (2008) and Bladder Cancer (2015) Stage Zero. Read more.
Katie Golden
Katie is joining BladderCancer.net for a special project called “Diary of a Caregiver.” In 2016, her grandfather was diagnosed with bladder cancer and later had his bladder removed. Read more.
Jacqueline Harmon
One year before her youngest of three children graduated from high school, Jacqueline was diagnosed with early-stage non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma. She didn't know it was low-grade bladder cancer at first, because her urologist was careful not to use the C-word. Read more.
Paul Hebert
Diagnosed September, 2012 with multiple tumor, Stage 2 Ta High-grade bladder cancer. Neoadjuvant chemo and then radical cystectomy/prostatectomy January, 2013. Neobladder. Continent (never thought I’d have to put that in a bio… go figure.) Read more.
Liz Hiles
Liz was diagnosed with Stage III-B bladder cancer with a T4 Tumor in August 2016 just 3 months short of turning 41. Single, childfree, and without parent or sibling support, she learned to navigate treatment and survivorship with the love and support of friends, extended family, and even coworkers. Read more.
Mac Howard
I am 55 now. A 13 year survivor of Bladder cancer. That said, I am so much more. I am a husband of 34 years (lucky woman), a father of 3, a foster father of 19, a coach and supporter of more things than I can count. I have been a volunteer firefighter. Read more.
Laura MacKenzie
My name is Laura MacKenzie, I am 45 years old and live in Scotland with my husband, Iain. I was diagnosed with late state, muscle-invasive small cell carcinoma bladder cancer in September 2017, with the only symptom of passing faeces in my urine the month before. Read more.
Phil Norris
Phil is a linguistics major, writer, rock climbing enthusiast and the son of a bladder cancer survivor. He moved from the UK to the Netherlands to study a masters at the University of Amsterdam. Read more.
Shirley Norris
Hi, my name is Shirley, I’m 56 and live in the North West of England. I have been married to my husband, Mike for over 36 years. We have 2 grown up sons who both live in the Netherlands. Read more.
Alison Petok, MSW, LCSW, MPH
Alison Petok is an oncology social worker; she received her Master in Social Work and Master in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in oncology research and currently serves as a clinical social worker in the Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University. Read more.
Rebecca Palpant-Shimkets
Rebecca Palpant Shimkets is a two-time thyroid cancer survivor and the daughter of two cancer survivors. Fourteen of her immediate family members have experienced cancer. She was 29 years old at the time of her first diagnosis and experienced a recurrence just four years later. Rebecca has a 20-year career in mental health focusing initially on the assessment and treatment of mental illnesses. Read more.
Anita Claire Prinz, RN, MSN, CWOCN
Anita Prinz aka The Stoma Doula is a Registered Nurse (RN) who is a Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse (CWOCN) since 2001. Anita is passionate about the care and education of people living with an ostomy. Read more.
Brittney Tellekamp
Brittney Tellekamp is a wife, corgi mom and project manager for Georgia State Parks. She was diagnosed July 25, 2019 with Stage IV Metastatic Bladder Cancer at the age of 28. Read more.
Charles Ulloa
Charles Anthony Ulloa is a Community Health Leader, Moderator, and Author for BladderCancer.net. Charles stumbled into the community after being his mother's primary caregiver in her bladder cancer battle. He chooses to live #StrongLikeSusan. Read more.
Linda Urbanski
Linda Urbanski is the mother of 3 beautiful daughters and grandmother to 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter, all of whom live in parts of Ohio. She is also a bladder cancer survivor. Read more.
Guy Wheatley
Guy Wheatley grew up as a military dependent living on or near military bases until age thirteen. He started junior high school in his family hometown of Gillett Arkansas where his father taught him to hunt and fish. He played football in high school and held farm related jobs during the summers throughout high school and college. He also spent one summer as deck crew on a Mississippi River tow boat. Read more.
Former health leaders
Scott Carroll
Scott was diagnosed with papillary urothelial carcinoma in November 2017 at age 54. Two TURBTs revealed he had a high-grade tumor that took up about half the space inside his bladder. Based largely on the size of the tumor, he was told his chance of recurrence was high so he chose to be aggressive. Read more.
Noel Forrest
My name is Noel Forrest, I am 50 years old and was diagnosed in April, 2017 with high grade pT1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder...I now as a result of my fight against cancer, want to help those suffering from this disease. My approach to life is to grab opportunities when I can and never regret decisions made. Read more.
Crystal Hartranft
My passions in life include being an aunt, spending time with my family, cooking, traveling and endlessly browsing the aisles of independently owned bookstores. I’ve been a national account manager for a mental health hospital for several years now and love being able to help families find treatment for their loved ones. Read more.
Renata Louwers
Renata Louwers is a writer, speaker, and bladder cancer patient advocate. She lost her first husband, Ahmad Khoshroo, to bladder cancer in 2014. She has published essays about the cancer patient and caregiver experience in STATnews.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Stanford Scope blog, among others. Read more.
Nick Myers
Nick Myers, or “Dr. Nick” as people affectionately call him, is currently a Medical Care Coordinator (MCM). He received his B.A. in Psychology from Old Dominion University, his M.A. in Human Sexuality & Health Studies from New York University and his Ph.D. from Widener University in Human Sexuality Education. He has written sexual health education materials and articles, created informational videos and even co-hosted an online radio show on sexual health in relationships. Read more.
Jim Van Horne
Jim Van Horne has been one of the most prominent sports commentators in Canada for over 30 years. Next to his marriage and the birth of his kids, Jim’s biggest accomplishment has been surviving bladder cancer. Read more.
Sarah Watts
Sarah Watts is a freelance writer who lives with her husband and two children in the Chicago suburbs. read more.
Lelee Young
Lelee is a 42-year-old USPS mail carrier she was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016. Bladder cancer has been an ongoing battle, for cancer keeps returning after treatment. Lelee has been taking BCG treatments since she was diagnosed. Read more.
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