Stepping Back on Board Post-PandemicThe sun setting as we took off from Faro Airport in Portugal was a sight to behold. The sun was also setting on our first holiday abroad since the pandemic... By Laura MacKenzie2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments18 comments
That Could Have Been 2 BitesI am sure every parent had had those times when a child inserted more food in their mouth than they thought possible. When that happened at our table, the child... By Mac Howard2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Preparing for My Annual ScopeOn the 18th of October, I will submit to my annual cystectomy. I believe this will be my 16th yearly check-up. Last week, Thursday, I decided what I really needed... By Mac Howard3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Bladder Cancer JourneyI am on my third chemo, just to get rid of any lingering cells if any. I have Bladder cancer 60yrs young. The only thing I find is not getting... By Simac1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Health Insurance in the US - What to ConsiderInsurance can be confusing. Recently I have seen posts regarding the high costs related to bladder cancer. I hope that this information will be beneficial to many of you. For... By Linda Urbanski4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
I Am a SurvivorDo I consider myself a survivor? Yes, I do. Per the definition of a survivor by the Oxford dictionary, "A person who survives, especially a person remaining alive after an event... By Laura MacKenzie2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Radical SurgeryHello, I had my bladder, uterus/tubes, ovaries, and bladder diversion made back in 2019. I was diagnosed with high-grade muscle invasion of cancer. I was told it had not spread... By sharonmolly1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
The Scope After BCGMom didn't get to enjoy the holidays of 2020. Halloween and Thanksgiving were not the celebrations she deserved. Furthermore, the family stayed away while she was in discomfort and fear... By Charles Anthony Ulloa4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments16 comments
The Struggles: Embarrassment and Diapers, Really!Living with bladder cancer is no easy feat. One of the comments said, in part, "No man is comfortable hearing about this procedure." I was struck by how lonely this... By Mac Howard2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
When Managing Cancer Is a Way of LifeTo the vast majority, cancer brings only 2 options. You either kill it with aggressive treatment, or it kills you. But what if cancer were another chronic disease you had... By Jacqueline Harmon3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Should I Have My Stoma Refashioned?I am 4 and a half years after the surgery that changed and saved my life. This operation was for stage 4 bladder cancer and included removing my bladder and... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
My Doctor Says I Am Cancer-FreeI have not written in a bit as I was busy preparing for the 13th annual bladder cancer retreat I co-host. But now that it is over for this year... By Linda Urbanski3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Radical Cystectomy Scheduled for February 2023I was diagnosed with NMIBC in 2021 and have had 4 turbts because it keeps recurring. Had BCG and it didn't work, and the last pathology report indicated that it... By AnnieO1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments18 comments
My First Year of BCG TreatmentsI had TURBT surgery in April 2020, after an ultrasound in February and a cystoscope in March showed I had bladder tumors. Before I left the hospital, a chemotherapy drug... By CommunityMember5573 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Struggles: Embarrassing Moments and Bladder Cancer"It can feel embarrassing." Yes, yes, it can. Bladder cancer is ripe with embarrassing moments and trials. Let us take a look at just a few. A disclaimer before we... By Mac Howard3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments10 comments
Bladder Cancer Surgery Took Way More Than My Cancerous TumorBladder cancer, like any cancer, is a rollercoaster of a ride. Regardless of an individual's sex, religious beliefs, medical history, and more - it is a difficult journey to follow... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments19 comments
Look Good, Feel BetterThis was the title of a workshop I was very kindly invited to a couple of months ago as I had been dealing with skin cancer on my nose. Apparently... By Shirley Norris3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
AloneMy diagnosis of NMI bladder cancer came within the same year that I lost my husband (from a surgery complication). I do not have children (just 2 stepchildren). Going to... By sarasterl1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
Supporting an Ostomy Bag: Barriers and Ostomy PasteIf you are reading this, you may already be an ostomate – someone who wears an ostomy bag following bladder removal surgery. You may be early on your journey or... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments13 comments
Most of Our Worries Are TimewastersThis article is for those who are newly diagnosed with bladder cancer and have chosen to have a radical cystectomy with an ileal conduit diversion. Take heart! The surgery and... By Dusty4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments