The Power of Cancer StoriesWhen my first husband Ahmad was diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer, I started to read and learn everything I could about the disease. At that time, in 2013, there weren’t... By Renata Louwers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Before, During, and After My CystectomyThe morning of my radical cystectomy came, although I swear that night felt like it would never end. I said goodbye to my husband Tim and to my son Ash... By Anita Brown5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Am I Dreaming?Walking into an operating room for the first time can be an intimidating experience. The “theater” I entered at Mt. Sinai was small, someone might even describe it as intimate... By Jim Van Horne2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Sexual Impact on WomenWhile I was prepping to write an article for BladderCancer.net, I came across an article that really opened my eyes to the impact of Bladder Cancer (BC) on female sexuality... By Nick Myers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
A Bag for Life!I was allowed to go home on day 5 after my radical cystectomy. I was eating, only little bits, mostly yogurts and jelly, and my bowels had opened, although I... By Anita Brown3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Send Lawyers, Drugs, and Money – Sometimes Cancer Isn’t About YouYou just got the call. You have cancer. For some it will be a low number; Stage 1. For others the number is higher, 3 or 4. While some of... By Paul Hebert4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Bladder Cancer and Mental HealthThis week I read a very disturbing report regarding urological cancers and suicide. The statistics that I read I found very distressing. It got me thinking about my own situation... By Shirley Norris4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
A Very Uncertain FutureThere’s nothing more shocking than to be told you have cancer. My wife Melanie and I drove home in silence that morning, afraid to speak for fear of realizing this... By Jim Van Horne3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Radical Cystectomy and Sex: A Woman's PerspectiveI had a radical cystectomy just over a year ago. Prior to surgery, I was informed that the surgery would involve the removal of my bladder, cervix, appendix, ureter, part... By Shirley Norris4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Community Feedback: The Cystoscopy ExperienceA cystoscopy is a procedure that looks at the urinary system to diagnose and treat conditions of the bladder, urethra, and prostate. It takes a look inside the urethra and... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments10 comments
TURBTs, PET Scans, and the Day of TruthAfter I found out I had bladder cancer, I was lucky enough to have private health insurance, so we arranged for me to go in and have a TURBT (have... By Anita Brown3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
6 Facts To Know About Bladder CancerSeveral members of the BladderCancer.net community shared that they knew nothing about bladder cancer until after they were diagnosed. We found that this is a common experience among people living... By Alina Ahsan3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments20 comments
The JourneyBladder cancer doesn’t care about boundaries. Doesn’t matter what street, town, city, state or country you live in. It doesn’t care about trade agreements or political persuasion. It will attack... By Jim Van Horne2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Cupcakes, Prosecco, and Bladder CancerI laid on the hospital couch, looking at the screen during my cystoscopy thinking, “What on earth is that?” My mind was all muddled; I had to close and reopen... By Anita Brown3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Kegels for HerMost people relate Kegel exercises (Kegels) to women and childbirth. But did you know having strong Pubococcygeus (PC) muscles, the muscles that support the organs of pelvis, can help keep... By Nick Myers3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
RC Check-Up Anxiety: How I CopedSo, it’s time for that first annual check-up after my radical cystectomy. I knew what to expect: blood tests, a renogram and a CT scan of the chest and abdomen... By Shirley Norris4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
When You Need to Travel for Bladder Cancer TreatmentFinding the right doctor to treat your bladder cancer can be challenging, and many of our community members have commented that they have to travel to a major cancer center... By Emily Downward2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
What is a Robotic Cystectomy?A cystectomy is the partial or total (radical) removal of the bladder. This can be done in multiple ways. Traditionally, a patient is given general anesthesia, an incision is made... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Hero in the MirrorThis is a short post. But one everyone who has been diagnosed with cancer should read. When you get the news you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you never forget that... By Paul Hebert2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
The Three Month Follow-Up: Part 2Part 1 of this article described Noel's anxious experience going in for a follow-up cystoscopy and realizing that a miscommunication in the office led to the urologist leaving for the... By Noel Forrest3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments