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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.

Tami’s Story: “My mind was stuck on the fact that I had cancer.”

Tami Angelucci’s bladder cancer journey began long before her actual diagnosis. For two years, she endured persistent discomfort and symptoms that doctors repeatedly dismissed as minor issues. It wasn’t until a series of unexpected turns that the truth finally came to light, leading to a life-altering diagnosis and treatment. What followed was a roller coaster […]

Wendy’s Story: “Facing cancer helped me realize I wanted to live, and living is beautiful.”

Facing a life-threatening diagnosis is never easy, but sometimes the journey through uncertainty reveals true strength. Wendy Williams’s story follows her diagnosis of aggressive bladder cancer, navigating multiple treatments, tests, and a search for alternatives when conventional methods seemed limited. With the support of a dedicated medical team, family and friends, as well as guidance […]

Liliana’s Story: “Just keep moving forward.”

Listen to our podcast with Liliana: While training for a marathon, Liliana Martin first noticed blood in her urine. Despite initial tests showing minimal blood, doctors dismissed it as a side effect of running or a kidney stone. A year later, the blood reappeared more intensely while training for a different marathon. Urgent care led […]

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