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...reactionscomments
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...reactions13comments
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...reactions2comments
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...reactions1comment
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...reactions4comments
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...reactions24comments
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...reactions3comments
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...reactions1comment
Get a NotebookMedical appointments are hectic. Often times you are meeting with several people and covering many different issues in what feels like a...reactions2comments
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...reactions8comments
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...reactions4comments
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...reactions2comments
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...reactions2comments
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...reactions7comments
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...reactions15comments
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...reactions2comments
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...reactions1comment
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...reactions5comments
I Have Got This But Not Every Day!My name is Laura. I live with two stomas - a colostomy and a urostomy. A colostomy for the removal of feces...reactions2comments
Would I Thrive in Spring Like the Bulbs?Today my husband and I planted the bulbs in our pots in the garden which will bloom in spring. For many, this...reactions8comments
