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Bladder Cancer Female Focus – Support and programs for women, by women

BCAN's Female Focus. Programs and support, by women, for women.
 
Join us at our monthly Female Focus Online Support Group

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network is proud offer our Female Focus Bladder Cancer Online Support Group. Moderated by nurse and BCAN patient advocate Karen Sachse, RN, MSN and oncology social worker Miriam Pomerantz Kadosh, MSW, LCSW, the Female Focus support group and programs will inform and empower you. Register here to be part of our monthly conversation by women for women.

In 2023, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 82,000 will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States. Of those, more than 19,000 will be women. Studies have shown that women are more likely to present more advanced tumors at diagnosis. According to a report published by the National Cancer Institute, the outcomes and survival rates for women with bladder cancer lags behind that of men at all stages of the disease. African-American women have poorer outcomes when diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Awareness is the key: in most cases, bladder cancer is treatable, but prompt diagnosis is critical

Drs. Sima Porten, Anne Schuckman, Kristen Scarpato, and Svetlana Avulova recently spoke about the Realities of Women With Bladder Cancer in an informative webinar.

Make sure you keep up-to-date with all of BCAN’s Female Focus support and programs. Subscribe to our BCAN Bulletin today.

Advice from women survivors

The good news is that in most cases, if caught early, bladder cancer is a manageable disease. There are tens of thousands of women surviving and thriving, even with bladder cancer today. Read some of their stories below.

Thank you

This program is sponsored by AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, the EMD/Pfizer Alliance, Genentech, Janssen Oncology and Merck. We are grateful for their support.

Shannon’s Story: “This experience doesn’t define who I am at my core.”

At just 35 years old, Shannon received a bladder cancer diagnosis. She opens up about her experience managing this illness while continuing to work, highlighting its effects on her career, mental well-being, and physical health. Despite the difficulties of her diagnosis, Shannon’s message is clear – bladder cancer doesn’t define you: “This has nothing to […]

Ana’s Story: “All I could think of was my three sons”

“I just had this voice inside of me saying, “This isn’t normal. This isn’t right.” Just days following her 50th birthday, Ana Franks heard the three words she feared the most: you have cancer. She shares her moving story of being diagnosed with bladder cancer in hopes of helping current or newly diagnosed patients understand […]

Nicholas’s Story: “I would not trade being with my mom the last months of her life for anything”

Nicholas, who lost his mother, Pamela Lightcap Simpson, in July of 2021, shares her journey with bladder cancer and the importance of an organization such as BCAN to bring awareness to this disease. Nicholas feels indebted to have spent valuable moments with her, even those that were a blessing in disguise: “I was initially supposed […]

This program is sponsored by the Bristol Myers Squibb, EMD/Pfizer Alliance, Genentech, Janssen and Merck. We are grateful for their support.

Read Our Stories