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“It is our hope that the My Bladder Cancer Story campaign will be an avenue for those affected by bladder cancer to share their stories to be a voice for those who, for far too long, have felt alone in this fight against this disease.”

Andrea Maddox-Smith, BCAN CEO
Share Your Story

  • Timothy’s Story: “I knew if I stood up at that moment, I was going to pass out”

    “You have bladder cancer” are the words Timothy Powell never expected to hear. Throughout his career as an internal medicine physician and pediatrician, he devoted himself to caring for patients and assisting them in coping with their diagnoses. He never imagined that he would be on the receiving end of… Read More

  • Gary and Cecilia: Be Thankful That Every Day is Another Day of Success

    BCAN had the pleasure of speaking with Gary and Cecilia DeVore. Gary was diagnosed with stage three muscle-invasive bladder cancer in January 2021. The DeVores shed light on their journey from a caregiver and patient point of view. BCAN: What symptoms did you experience before your diagnosis? Gary: I noticed… Read More

  • Jon’s Story: It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

    Two years ago, at the age of 42, I faced a life-changing diagnosis. Despite experiencing uncomfortable symptoms for six months, it was only after noticing discoloration in my urine accompanied by blood clots that I decided to seek medical attention. Due to the pandemic, I hesitated to see a doctor,… Read More

  • Glenn’s Story: Sharing My Journey to Help Others

    April 1, 2023 will be the two-year anniversary of my bladder cancer diagnosis and a few months short of my 75th birthday. I am glad to have this opportunity to relate my bladder cancer story to this point because, based on my experiences, my story will hopefully reduce some anxiety… Read More

  • A Cautionary Tale – Victoria’s Story

    Victoria offers a caregiver’s perspective in the hopes that others can learn from her dear friend’s tragic story. Mentor, Business Partner, Father Figure I’ve always been interested in health care, from my background in pre-med and public health, to my decades of experience in helping to grow medical and dental… Read More

  • Rick’s Story: Bladder Cancer Was a New Beginning

    Rick was diagnosed with bladder cancer on June 24, 2022, at age 55.  Here is his first-person account of his journey. For the majority of my life, I maintained a healthy and active lifestyle. One Saturday morning, I woke up to use the restroom and discovered blood in my urine. Read More

  • Steve’s Journey: From Agent Orange to a Radical Cystectomy

    My journey with bladder cancer began in October 2017 at the age of 70. Being a Vietnam War veteran exposed to Agent Orange, I cannot help but think that may have played a role in my diagnosis. Before finding out that I had bladder cancer, I had mild symptoms. There… Read More

  • Scott’s Story: Bladder Cancer Didn’t Stop Me

    For the majority of my life, I have always been fit. As I got older, I adjusted my diet and my approach to continue being active in sports and fitness. I even started competing in Masters Track and Field in my 50s, winning a number of national championships. I was… Read More

  • Karen: Our Bladder Cancer Story Has Been Like a Bad Netflix Series

    Karen is Spencer’s wife and she reached out to BCAN eager to share her husband’s journey with small cell bladder cancer. She described this phase of their lives like a “bad Netflix series.” Unrehearsed: Our Journey with Small Cell Bladder Cancer My husband, Spencer, was diagnosed with small cell… Read More

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