Living

Trust me. This isn’t going where you think it is. I was a 53-year-old man who never cried. Well, maybe at the end of Old Yeller or Planes, Trains and...

How many times have you heard someone say “you’ll beat cancer because you have a great attitude?” On its face, this sounds upbeat, hopeful, and encouraging. What could be wrong...

In January, I was admitted to ICU with sepsis. It came from a urinary tract infection. It was the first one I had ever had in my life, so I didn't...

For those of you who don't know me, Hello, my name is Anita and in 2016, I had the worst news ever. I was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine, small cell bladder...

As a person who is in remission from bladder cancer, I find that even now two years later I can still suffer from quite severe fatigue. I also seem to...

Getting a cancer diagnosis is never easy. But when you have cancer and an anxiety disorder, you tend to jump to the worst possible conclusions. Illustrations by Lucius Wisniewski for...

See Part 1: Lessons I Have Learned to read about some more of the takeaways Anita shares from her experiences with bladder cancer. There are many things people will say...

You hear the news and it feels so black and white. When doctors tell you it’s time to remove your bladder, it’s hard not to be afraid. Losing an organ...

In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing a physical illness like bladder cancer and its side effects. Phrases in quotes are the words of our community...

You came through surgery okay. Your recovery has been smooth, no major complications. You’re back to your daily routine, working, teaching, taking care of the kids or enjoying your retirement...

It has been around four weeks (this is the 4th week, although it feels longer) since I addressed my diet and upped the physical exercise. I think, overall, it is...

Let’s talk about sex. That’s right, sex. Before my bladder surgery, one of the biggest fears I had was that I would emerge an old man. I was 66 years...

The effects of cancer extend so much further than just the body. This disease can wreak absolute havoc on mental wellbeing. Anxiety, especially the nerves that arise prior to annual...

  The Mediterranean diet has all the basic components of "healthy eating." It even allows for the odd cheeky glass of red wine, so what's not to like? If like...

UTI stands for urinary tract infection. Typically with this type of infection, there can be pain, burning with urination, possibly blood in urine, a frequency to urinate, cloudy, dark, or strange...

I have been living with terminal bladder cancer for nearly three years now. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have had this extra time; this is something we didn't think...

Prior to having my bladder removed, I never gave "disabled" toilets a second thought. In fact, I would walk past them and assume that they were for use only by...

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) isn't suitable for everyone, and there are some huge risks. One of them being that you may develop breast cancer. That didn't and still doesn't worry...

Since losing my first husband (Ahmad) to bladder cancer in 2014, I have gotten involved in patient advocacy related to bladder cancer. After he was diagnosed and during the course...

Over the last three years, I think I have heard every kind of reaction to my "I have terminal bladder cancer." Let's face it, people are idiots who don't always use...