A Brief History of My Cancer: From Catheters to Continuing OnLast we left our brave hero, he was checking into the hospital for a radical cystectomy, prostatectomy, and neobladder build with installation. He might have had his oil changed while...reactions13comments
The Comedy in Getting My Port InsertedMy access journey has been a collection of stories all on its own - it has not been a pleasant journey either. When I went in for my radical cystectomy...reactions1comment
It's a Wrap! The 2021 North Carolina Bladder Cancer RetreatThis retreat originally started in 2008 as a picnic to bring people with bladder cancer together. Showing others they are not alone, asking questions in an open forum where nothing...reactionscomments
For People New to Chemo TreatmentI just want to share that I had my first 6-hour Chemo treatment today, the first day of 4 cycles with 3 days of chemo followed by 21 days of...reactions7comments
Histology results came back with cancer in one lymph nodeAfter 9 months of battling through the diagnosis of high-grade muscle invasive bladder cancer, we found out the tumour couldn’t all be removed and the pain was unbearable. The chemotherapy...reactions8comments
Are You Ever Jealous of Other People's Seemingly Good Health?It is strange but I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Why do some people really seem to suffer from one thing after another? Whilst others just seem...reactions3comments
Getting HelpOne thing I wish I had understood earlier in my cancer journey (and life in general) is it is OK to not be OK. I've always grown up with the...reactions6comments
Interview with Basil: Managing Scope PainWe have talked extensively to the BladderCancer.net community about cystoscopies and managing the pain that sometimes comes along with it. Basil came to us with a new inquiry that we...reactionscomments
Urostomy and scar tissue/ pelvic floor dysfunctionWell, I had to have a radical cystectomy 8 months ago. I was told I could have a normal life afterward... For me, that was a myth. Within months I...reactions5comments
A Brief History of My Bladder Cancer: Blood in My Urine to a CystectomyI have been contributing to this site, BladderCancer.net, for a few years now. I have written many individual posts covering specific things I experienced over the past 9 years since...reactions2comments
Deals with God and Bladder CancerI grew up in the church. I was very active into adulthood. But somewhere around mid-life, I drifted away from the church. It wasn't an angry blowout or some monumental...reactions7comments
Setting BoundariesWhen I started sharing my story online, I never anticipated just how many people would start following along. In just a few short months I had subscribers, a partnership with...reactions1comment
My Thoughts on Raising Ostomy AwarenessIronically, when I received my bladder cancer diagnosis, I had already been advocating and doing awareness campaigns around the topic of ostomies through the position I had at the time...reactions1comment
Changing My Medical TeamIn May of this year, I was faced with a difficult situation. Stay at the small cancer center I had moved to for maintenance treatment or transfer back to the...reactionscomments
Can We Talk About Sex After a Radical Cystectomy?This may be the hardest post I've had to write... It has to do with sex after bladder cancer, specifically after my cystectomy. I'm pretty sure I won't get through...reactions3comments
Cheat Sheet: Bladder Cancer TermsImagine this: You are just recently diagnosed with bladder cancer, and all of the people you are talking to are throwing around a million medical terms a minute. For that...reactions1comment
Coming Soon: World Ostomy DayHere in the US, we are fortunate to have an organization and national support to celebrate an Ostomy Awareness Day annually on the first Saturday in October. What many don't...reactionscomments
My Bladder Cancer Medical BinderWhen I was diagnosed with bladder cancer I suddenly found myself in charge of tracking, packing, and keeping so many different things with me at all times. Extra ostomy supplies...reactions1comment
Life After Bladder Cancer?Are you surviving? Thriving? Or a bit of a 'hot mess' (like me)? I am not transitioning peacefully and calmly into living with cancer, and the after-effects thereof. I am...reactions18comments
Reading Labs and Raising Red FlagsI am always emphasizing that cancer patients should make a point to be the most educated person in the room. I don't mean you need a medical degree and know...reactionscomments
