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
Invisible Is Not InvalidBladder cancer is “invisible.” For many of us, there are no outward signs of our disease. There are exceptions, and some of us present as terribly ill, but many of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Living with Chronic IllnessIt’s been more than 3 and a half years, and I’m still living with the threat of my small cell bladder cancer returning. During this time, I have tried to...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Incontinence & Preserving My DignityThis is my 28th article. The number is not the milestone. The milestone is the fact that it has taken this many articles to reach this point of willingness to...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Bladder Cancer and BCG Reactive ArthritisOne method used to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment. BCG is a type of bacteria. During BCG treatment, the bacteria are put directly into...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Benefits of JournalingI was in 7th grade the first time I journaled. A class assignment for English, I think. We could write about anything we wanted and our grade would be on...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Resources for Veterans With Bladder CancerThere are some risks that increase your chances of getting bladder cancer. Some risks cannot be avoided, like being born male or being an advanced age. Other risks are environmental...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
It Is Okay Not to Be OkayMany of the cancer fighters I have spoken with struggle with keeping up appearances. Our concern is how the illness will affect our loved ones. Just having cancer seems to...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Bladder Cancer and Ureteral Stents: What You Need to KnowOur bodies are made up of billions of cells. When these cells grow and multiply too fast, they can cause cancer. Cancer can develop in any part of the body...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Celebrating 2 Years of BladderCancer.net!In honor of our 2-year anniversary here at BladderCancer.net, we wanted to focus on the impact of our online community on people living with bladder cancer. When trying to understand...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Pace Yourself for the Holidays“Pace yourself.” What a radical idea! It is almost unheard of in our society. We live in a time of technology and multi-tasking and unlimited production. Many of us are...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Managing Cancer Side Effects as a CaregiverCancer itself and treatments for cancer can cause a number of symptoms and side effects that often deeply impact daily life. For caregivers, it is not uncommon to feel helpless...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
GuiltI think the formula may well be “Time multiplied by loss, then divided by survival equals guilt.” I don’t know how to write that out in fancy equation form; however...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Bladder Cancer Comic: Prescription Pick-Up DecisionsCheck-ups and other urology appointments can be really stressful for people with bladder cancer. Having a friend, partner, or other caregiver attend appointments with you can help alleviate some anxiety...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Pain and Sexual HealthLet’s face it: chronic pain is exhausting. Just the thought of sex might make you feel tired. If you feel this way, remember that you aren’t alone! Chronic pain can...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Appreciating the Small ThingsAppreciation: “the sensitive understanding of the aesthetic value of something.” The longer I live, the more I realize my appreciation for the small. Yesterday, I called my youngest and said...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments