Job Hunting With CancerAs a young adult with bladder cancer, one of the biggest hurdles has been balancing my career and my cancer. I needed to continue working out of necessity as I... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
One Woman's Bladder Tumor Resection ExperienceMy son picked me up for the 45-minute drive to the surgical pavilion at UW Medical Center. We arrived 10 minutes past check-in time, and everything was fine. I told... By Jacqueline Harmon4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Common Ostomy Questions Answered by an OstomateWhen you or someone close to you finds out they will need surgery to create an ostomy (stoma), it can be a very scary thing to hear. The main reason... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Illness, Self Care, and Self Neglect!I should be the queen of self-care by now. You would think so, wouldn't you? But I'm not... I'm human and I struggle with a lot of things. My mental... By Anita Brown6 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments13 comments
Life After Bladder Cancer: Taking Time to ProcessI am four years on from my cancer diagnosis and surgery. I am, as of today, still cancer-free. I always say you are only as good as your last scan... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Using a Co-Pay Assistance ProgramImmunotherapy is an incredibly expensive cancer treatment. On average, it can cost a patient over 100,000 dollars per year in drug costs alone for this life-saving treatment. Oftentimes due to... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Dale's Story: Surviving Bladder Cancer and a Radical CystectomyDale shared insight on his journey and how this experience has informed how he carries himself through life after bladder cancer and a radical cystectomy. I was diagnosed with stage... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
My Adventures in Gemcitabine Induction Therapy: Week 1Tomorrow I begin 6 weeks of intravesical chemotherapy induction with gemcitabine. I am feeling less anxious than I did two weeks ago. After all, I have been too busy planning... By Jacqueline Harmon3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments24 comments
Managing Scan and Medical AnxietyPrior to my bladder cancer journey, I was probably the weakest person I knew when it came to anything medical. In the later years before her passing, my mother-in-law was... By Laura MacKenzie2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Ask the Advocate: Advice around Reconstructive Bladder SurgeryWe asked the ostomates among our patient leader team, "what advice would you give someone who was feeling unsure about reconstructive bladder surgery?" Our group shed some invaluable, down-to-earth perspectives... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Get a NotebookMedical appointments are hectic. Often times you are meeting with several people and covering many different issues in what feels like a rush. I know my oncologist can seem like... By Brittney Tellekamp2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Both Sides NowLooking Back Through Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. Great song for this old hippie guitar man. For my purposes today let's substitute cancer for clouds. Think it applies to... By Dan Franke2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Self-Advocacy After a Bladder Cancer DiagnosisI was diagnosed with late-stage aggressive bladder cancer in September 2017. The months that followed were a whirlwind in many respects. On one hand, there was always that next consultation... By Laura MacKenzie4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments4 comments
Spreading Joy and Cheer During Bladder Cancer CareIt's the most wonderful time of the year for many people. But for you, it might be the most solitary time. Perhaps you live too far away from your family... By Jacqueline Harmon3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Life After Bladder Cancer: Grieving My Old SelfI was diagnosed with stage 4, muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the fall of 2017. In November 2017, I underwent a total pelvic exenteration (TPE) with an aim to cure the... By Laura MacKenzie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Drag and Delay to a Bladder Cancer DiagnosisFrom weeks to months to years, each bladder cancer diagnosis is unique. It feels like a long slog, regardless of the length of time. Curious about the process in this... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
No Evidence of DiseaseIt finally happened. Two years into treatment and I received the scan report I had been hoping for. The report read "no evidence of disease recurrence or progression". This means... By Brittney Tellekamp2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments15 comments
World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition SurveyIn March of 2020, I was invited to join the patient advisory board for the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition. The board consists of members across the globe, with various... By Brittney Tellekamp2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
For The Next MeWhen I first started patient advocacy I was told I needed to find my "why." My reason for advocacy is what would make my work genuine and ensure others would... By Brittney Tellekamp3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Mom's Entry into this WorldI've heard many cancer survivors say that they remember exactly where they were or what they were doing when they found out they had cancer. I imagine this has to be... By Charles Anthony Ulloa4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments