Donate

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.

Colleen’s Story: “It is important to take each day as it comes because the obstacles seem insurmountable in the beginning.”

Colleen Griffin’s journey began with a puzzling diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. Despite treatments, her symptoms persisted. Hope flickered with a mysterious back implant but a month later, strange pains led to a revealing CT scan – bladder cancer. Through chemotherapy and a radical cystectomy, she persevered with unwavering support. Today, she stands as proof of […]

Anita’s Story: “We have to be our own advocates and live life as bravely and as fully as we can.”

It started with a seemingly innocent symptom: blood in her urine. Initially dismissed as a urinary tract infection by her general practitioner, Anita sought a second opinion in December 2019. By January 2020, the reappearance of blood in her urine prompted an urgent referral to a urologist which led to a turning point in her […]

Colleen’s Story: “I told myself, Okay, I’m going to live in the moment the best that I can and I’m not going to let this stop me.”

Battling through her bladder cancer diagnosis as a young mother, Colleen found hope and resilience, ultimately embracing a transformative therapy. Amidst her journey, family, friends, and the support of BCAN’s invaluable resources became pillars of strength. This is Colleen’s story: I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in May of 2022 at 36 years old. I […]

Read Our Stories