Living

I had my bladder removed and a hysterectomy on August 19, 2017. In March of 2018, I saw an endocrinologist who diagnosed a few things wrong with this old body...

When you are told you need to have a cystoscopy, it can be quite terrifying.  Inserting an endoscope into your bladder with a camera on the end, while awake, scared...

So, Christmas is over. The New Year has come and gone; we are all partied out and I have survived the festive season like a pro, so why do I...

Many of us know that quitting smoking can help us to be healthier, but it’s so much easier said than done. Smoking is kind of like a friend who has...

When I had my bladder cancer removed last year, the doctor warned me that I would need to wear a catheter bag for a few weeks after surgery to give...

If you or someone close to you received a bladder cancer diagnosis, it may be tough to reflect on the year and feel grateful for what it has brought. But...

It’s been said the once someone gets cancer, the whole family gets it. Truer words were never spoken. I guess in my case, I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed...

As the holiday season approaches and the party invites begin to arrive, many of us who have a “stoma” might start to worry about “leaks”. So, here are some tips...

So this is the 2nd Christmas that I’m about to share with my little stoma, “Winnie”. Last year was quite daunting as everything was “new”. The holiday season and all...

BC. Before Cancer. I could pee standing up without really thinking about it. I knew when my bladder was full based on a feeling versus an alarm clock. I didn’t...

As someone who was fully employed in a professional, full-time role before my bladder cancer diagnosis, I’ve been very disheartened by stories I have heard from other cancer patients and...

After a cancer diagnosis, our finances can go into a tailspin. There are co-payments, treatments, medications not covered, and travel expenses. Add to that if you have been placed on disability...

March 30th couldn’t get here fast enough; I just wanted to get my cystectomy done. Eight years of losing battles were over, and I was hopefully about to win the...

In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing physical illness and its side effects. Phrases in bold are the words of our community members across various conditions...

I would like to share some of my favorite oils. These oils have helped me through the past couple of years and no doubt will continue to help me...

So I’d been diagnosed with bladder cancer. It was probably the most shocking news I had ever received. I never thought at 53 years of age I would be doing...

BCG -Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, is a term that Bladder Cancer survivors are a bit of afraid of. It is sometimes referred to as an immunotherapy. I have noticed that many people...

I didn’t have a lot of time to think about the surgery because March 17 was approaching fast. I tried to stay as active as possible leading up to the...

I feel it is a lot harder to tell older children that you have cancer. Let me explain. My son Ashleigh is 24. He was 22 when we found out I...

Like other survivors I've spoken with, my life seems permanently divided into two parts – Before Cancer and After Cancer. Before Cancer, it's safe to say I was a hot...