Offering Support: Being There When You Can't Be ThereIf someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, you'll obviously want to support them in every way possible. If you live locally, you can offer support in many ways:... By Phil Norris3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
It Has Been a While!It has been a while since I last wrote anything, and that has been due to my physical and mental health. I found life so overwhelming that I retreated into... By Anita Brown4 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
COVID With an OstomyAfter 3.5 years of managing to avoid COVID-19 - it finally got me. Having avoided contracting COVID-19 up until now was probably partly due to luck. However, for the most... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Five Years No RecurrenceMy bladder cancer journey started five years ago. I'm an avid bicyclist riding my Trek road bike 40 miles a week. After a strenuous 30-mile ride, I had blood in... By biscuit531 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Getting the Bladder Cancer Message to CongressAs you may have read, I had many plans for Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. One of these was reaching out to my local member of parliament (the UK's rough equivalent... By Laura MacKenzie2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
Well, They Didn't Tell Me THATMaybe we can blame it on the emergency surrounding my surgery, and maybe we can say the post-op complications were taking precedence. But before and even after my surgery, I... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Self-Care: Acceptable and NecessaryFor me, self-care was never a thought. I was so caught up in taking care of everyone around me that taking care of myself was relegated to having hot coffee... By Mac Howard2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Bladder Cancer In America Survey: What's That?A bladder cancer diagnosis is a shock, but what can make it more difficult is the lack of information and research available for patients and their loved ones. Many people... By Editorial Team2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Supporting an Ostomy Bag: Flange Extenders and Ostomy PowderHi again. I am back to look at another couple of additional ostomy products that may help you on your journey. Some people need support in the early days while... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Coping With MusicMusic has always been an integral part of my life. Even as a baby, my parents said I was always dancing and bouncing whenever there was a tune playing. As... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments2 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... By Margy521 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Being OpenIsolation is debilitating. Be it physical or emotional. Feeling like you are alone or the only one going through what you are going through is brutal. Being open about your... By Mac Howard2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
Signing My Life Away, Or Saving It?Surgery day was approaching. On October 31st, 2017, I was admitted to the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, Scotland, for my total pelvic exenteration surgery scheduled for the next day. Confirmation... By Laura MacKenzie4 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The BeginningJuly 1st: Seeing very dark urine one morning and went to the doctor's office to have it checked. They said they saw microscopic blood in the sample I gave at... By Thomas G1 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments17 comments
Living the 1 PercentFrom the day of my diagnosis, I have always been "different." I was too young (only 28 years old at diagnosis). I was a woman. I had never smoked or... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
The Dawn of a New Year and a Fresh StartThe New Year means different things to different people. I live in Scotland. December 31 is known as Hogmanay. Historically Christmas day wasn't even a holiday in Scotland; however, New... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My Caregiver AppreciationNovember is Caregiver Appreciation Month. I am writing this on the first day of December. On November 8th, election day in America, my wife went to vote and pick up... By Mac Howard3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
An Ostomy: The Gift That Keeps on Giving"All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth," sang Alvin and the Chipmunks, but what do we all really want for Christmas? Well, you could ask thousands of... By Laura MacKenzie2 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Tumors ReturnThis is "327" again. My name is Tom. "Unexpected/Unwelcome Surprise" is my first entry to this forum. Following my first surgery in January 2022, and 6-week BCG treatment, I had... By CommunityMember3271 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Caring for Your Mental HealthOnce faced with a cancer diagnosis, your entire focus tends to shift to caring for your body. Staying hydrated, eating well, prepping for procedures, dealing with treatment after effects, and... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for later Reactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments