A Different View: Reflecting on How I Told My FamilyOur kids were teens when I was diagnosed. Decisions had to made about what and when to tell them about my cancer. These are hard decisions and choices. There is...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Preparing for Unrelated Major Surgery with a StomaI recently had to have a total knee replacement. I have needed this surgery for over 2 years, but due to having bladder cancer and needing a radical cystectomy, it...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Only Way Out Is ThroughWhen life is going well, it’s easy to forget the raw distress that a bladder cancer diagnosis (or even the possibility of a diagnosis) once imposed on our psyche. I...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
My Bladder Cancer Journal Giveaway (Now Closed)From doctor’s appointments to medications to treatment plans, keeping track of everything related to your bladder cancer can feel overwhelming. Staying organized and having a place to keep track of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Project Koru: Remembering That Life Is More Than Just Bladder CancerIn part one of this blog, I discussed my struggles getting to Maui and how anxiety tried to hold me back. Maui was the place I developed human connections, personal...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Caregivers Make This Journey Less of a BurdenI love telling stories. In my opinion, storytelling is vital to carrying on family and memories and ensuring loved ones never fade away. If you could ask anyone who knows...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Remembering Jennifer TothWe are incredibly saddened to share that BladderCancer.net team member Jennifer Toth passed away on January 28, 2020. Jennifer had been living with lung cancer since 2014 and was diagnosed...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
I Was the Most Positive Person I Knew Until...I can’t speak for anybody else, but I am the most positive person I know. I’m not one of those people who must analyze whether their glass is half full...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
BrothersI need to say, from the onset, I am angry. Exceptionally angry. More than that, I am heartbroken. Cancer has another of my brothers in it’s cold, murderous grip. I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Coffee Mug + Notebook Giveaway Terms and ConditionsOfficial Rules, Terms and Conditions for Coffee Mug + Notebook Giveaway NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
We Don't Just Have Bladder Cancer, We Have a Life to LiveI recently had an opportunity to travel to the Island of Maui. I had never gone that far west and never to Hawaii. I was attending Project Koru, a camp...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Fear: The Universal ExperienceI have read so many articles written by cancer patients, survivors, and fighters. Name a cancer, and I have read stories and perspectives of those who are in the midst...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Returning to Work After a CystectomyYour work duties may be the last thing on your mind right now. But at some point, you are going to have to think about your future. For some, going...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
FDA Approves New Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer TreatmentFor the first time in 20 years, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The drug pembrolizumab is marketed...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Gaining PerspectiveSaturday, October the 5th, 2019 had a beautiful start. The sun was bright in the early fall sky. The roads were dry, and traffic was light. For a truck driver...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Are You a Cancer Victim, Warrior, or Thriver?I’ve read many articles that describe people with cancer as “cancer victims,” “warriors,” or “thrivers.” At times, these descriptive words given to my condition have made me kind of angry...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Bladder Cancer Comic: Sweet TemptationsCommitting to a new diet during the holiday season is tough. The temptation to indulge in delicious treats is everywhere! The humorous comic below shows a woman with bladder cancer...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
I Am More Than My Diagnosis: A Year in ReviewIn our Impact of Cancer Survey we asked what terms people diagnosed with cancer preferred and disliked. The answers were all across the board, from survivor to metavivor to “just...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Shared ExperiencesI wish I had a platform to speak to newly diagnosed cancer fighters. A huge bull horn with a shoulder strap and a microphone. Maybe stilts with the Uncle Sam...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
2019: The Year of the Bladder Cancer Roller CoasterHi, readers. This year (2019), I have not written much because 2019 has been one of the most challenging years since being diagnosed with metastatic bladder cancer in 2015. I...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments