Getting the Bladder Cancer Message to CongressAs you may have read, I had many plans for Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. One of these was reaching out to my local member of parliament (the UK's rough equivalent...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Well, They Didn't Tell Me THATMaybe we can blame it on the emergency surrounding my surgery, and maybe we can say the post-op complications were taking precedence. But before and even after my surgery, I...Reactions0reactionsComments11 comments
Self-Care: Acceptable and NecessaryFor me, self-care was never a thought. I was so caught up in taking care of everyone around me that taking care of myself was relegated to having hot coffee...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
In America: What's That?A bladder cancer diagnosis is a shock, but what can make it more difficult is the lack of information and research available for patients and their loved ones. Many people...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Supporting an Ostomy Bag: Flange Extenders and Ostomy PowderHi again. I am back to look at another couple of additional ostomy products that may help you on your journey. Some people need support in the early days while...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Coping With MusicMusic has always been an integral part of my life. Even as a baby, my parents said I was always dancing and bouncing whenever there was a tune playing. As...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
SadnessI lost my husband of 34 years on October 31st of this year, just over 2 years after him receiving a cancer diagnosis on September 29th, 2020. Our world was...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Being OpenIsolation is debilitating. Be it physical or emotional. Feeling like you are alone or the only one going through what you are going through is brutal. Being open about your...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Signing My Life Away, Or Saving It?Surgery day was approaching. On October 31st, 2017, I was admitted to the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, Scotland, for my total pelvic exenteration surgery scheduled for the next day. Confirmation...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The BeginningJuly 1st: Seeing very dark urine one morning and went to the doctor's office to have it checked. They said they saw microscopic blood in the sample I gave at...Reactions0reactionsComments20 comments
Living the 1 PercentFrom the day of my diagnosis, I have always been "different." I was too young (only 28 years old at diagnosis). I was a woman. I had never smoked or...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
The Dawn of a New Year and a Fresh StartThe New Year means different things to different people. I live in Scotland. December 31 is known as Hogmanay. Historically Christmas day wasn't even a holiday in Scotland; however, New...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Caregiver AppreciationNovember is Caregiver Appreciation Month. I am writing this on the first day of December. On November 8th, election day in America, my wife went to vote and pick up...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
An Ostomy: The Gift That Keeps on Giving"All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth," sang Alvin and the Chipmunks, but what do we all really want for Christmas? Well, you could ask thousands of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Tumors ReturnThis is "327" again. My name is Tom. "Unexpected/Unwelcome Surprise" is my first entry to this forum. Following my first surgery in January 2022, and 6-week BCG treatment, I had...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Caring for Your Mental HealthOnce faced with a cancer diagnosis, your entire focus tends to shift to caring for your body. Staying hydrated, eating well, prepping for procedures, dealing with treatment after effects, and...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Never Let Your Ostomy Hold You BackToday is a good day. No, today is a great day! This evening, I will head to Glasgow Airport, Scotland, and board a plane to Portugal. For anyone who knows...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Hope for a Happy New YearOn July 25th, 2019, everything stopped. It was like my world froze into place, and here we are now, and it feels in many ways like I am still frozen...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Life After SurgeryI’m 11 months after bladder and prostate removal. As of today, I have no sex life. It’s very simple- active before- now inactive. In a strange way, I think it’s...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Humor Is the Best Medicine: Finding Laughs Along the WayI was stuck in traffic heading home from the airport in the early hours last winter, having just returned from a trip to Mexico. I quickly realized there was a...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
