Stories

Mike shares his experience with bladder cancer, from early blood in his urine to a diagnosis, repeated TURBTs and BCG treatment, and a radical cystectomy with ileal conduit. He reflects on the patience recovery demands, the support he found through BCAN, and the advice he’d give his newly diagnosed… Read More

Heidi shares her experience caring for her husband, Mike, after his bladder cancer diagnosis, including seeking a second opinion, navigating BCG treatment and surgery, and coping with the uncertainty of caregiving. In October 2023, my husband kept interrupting a family gathering to use the restroom. To be honest,… Read More

In October of 2024, I earned my PhD. I had plans to become a professor, maybe even retire early. And then, on a random snow day just three months later, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. At first, I had no physical symptoms at all. I was cooking… Read More

When Megan noticed blood in her urine after running and hiking, she assumed the two were connected. “I thought maybe I’d pulled a muscle,” she says. “I’d never seen anything like that before.” Because it was Sunday, she saw a healthcare provider first thing Monday morning. Read More

Chris Parente is a seven-time Emmy Award winning reporter, anchor and entertainment host. You can watch him weekdays from 4:30-9:00 a.m. co-anchoring “Daybreak” on Fox 31 in Denver, CO.  He also is chronicling his bladder cancer journey on his YouTube channel, “Sudden Urgency.”  This is Chris’s story:… Read More

From the shock of reading a bladder cancer diagnosis in his patient portal just before Christmas to becoming a trusted voice for thousands of patients online, Mike shares an honest, inspiring journey of resilience, advocacy and hope. In this candid conversation, he opens up about the fear of diagnosis,… Read More

In 2021, I thought I was dealing with a frustrating string of urinary tract infections. Looking back, I can see the warning signs. At the time, I didn’t. Over the course of seven or eight months, I had four or five UTIs. Every time symptoms appeared,… Read More

At just 48 years old, Vincent Rossi faced two life-changing cancer diagnoses at the same time: colon cancer and an aggressive form of bladder cancer. What followed was a difficult journey filled with major surgeries, chemotherapy and multiple treatments after his bladder cancer returned as upper tract urothelial… Read More

When Angie Glender noticed blood in her urine, she immediately feared it was bladder cancer — the same disease her husband had faced years earlier. What began as a concerning symptom quickly turned into a far more complex journey involving a rare diagnosis, difficult treatment decisions, and an unwavering… Read More