Living

You may have heard of “chemo brain,” but cancer-related brain fog is not limited to those who have experienced chemotherapy. So, what do we mean when we cancer patients say...

An illness that kills some and is a nuisance illness for others. An experience that disrupts life as we knew it. A highly unpredictable disease that seems arbitrary in its...

Stolen valor is the term for some nimrod who has never served his country and puts on a costume of a military nature with phony ribbons and citations. I use...

In my first article, I offered some ideas to help you start on the path to healthy (fresh) eating. That article addressed the numerous reasons we already know such as...

I read a distressing story about a bladder cancer patient that got me curious about Medicare and the unintended consequences of choosing a certain plan. In February, the New York...

I clearly remember the day I was given a diagnosis of bladder cancer, a type of cancer I had never hear of. I soon discovered that bladder cancer was not...

Historically, when a person was battling cancer, it was very hush-hush. It wasn't even discussed within the confines of the person's household, let alone with others outside the household. It...

Everyone in life has their own "tribe." You know, your group of people - friends and family - who love and support you through thick and thin. Those who actually...

Well, it's official: I have had my life-saving stoma for an entire year now. Within 2 weeks of my diagnosis, my oncologists and surgeons knew I needed to have my...

Your doctor — be it your urologist, medical oncologist, radiologist, or other specialist treating you for bladder cancer — is your partner. He or she is there to help you...

My surgery date for a radical cystectomy/ileal conduit (RC/IC) arrived quickly. The weeks prior were a flurry of appointments, pre-surgery testing, and keeping my mind occupied elsewhere. I still have not decided...

As any cancer patient or caregiver can tell you, everyone has an opinion about how to treat your cancer. And many of those people will let you know what they...

On August 9th, 2016, I went to the urologist to have a cystoscopy. This simple procedure permanently altered the course of my life. At 40 years old, I had experienced...

I think good medical and emotional support for a bladder cancer patient comes from three sources: All three are important to fully support a patient and family facing bladder cancer...

As I sit in the waiting room of my cancer center, I look around and see the chairs spaced a perfect six feet apart. There are no visitors, and everyone’s...

I was absolutely shocked by a bladder cancer diagnosis in late August 2014. Earlier the same day, my youngest daughter told me that she and her husband were finally expecting their...

It was the fall of 2013, and I was having a great time with friends and family at Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio. It appeared that my only "attraction" was...

In Part One, I addressed the three first steps I recommended taking right after you are diagnosed with bladder cancer. In this part, I offer you some ideas for questions...

One thing they tell you when you write for sites like this is to be really careful you don’t provide medical advice. I am not qualified to give advice, and...

Welcome to Part Two of organizing your day in your space. In Part One, we laid some basic groundwork for structuring the day: identifying personal challenges, aiming for balance, identifying...