Male

“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
  • 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
  • Walter Had Stage IV, Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

    Before his Stage IV bladder cancer diagnosis, Walter was healthy but when we could return home from the gym, there was blood in his urine. He knew that something was wrong, but he did not suspect bladder cancer. Read More
  • Allen’s Story: Anger, Denial, Then Acceptance

    In March of 2014, I was diagnosed with stage two bladder cancer. I went in for my annual check-up with my general practitioner and he saw something in my blood work that he did not like, so he requested I do another blood draw. During the next six weeks, I… Read More
  • Lionel’s Story: A Great Life with a Neobladder, 25 Years Later

    Lionel Cohen is a 25-year bladder cancer survivor and credits his longevity to his decision to opt for a neobladder more than two decades ago, and also to the skill and expertise of Dr. Gary Steinberg, his surgeon. Lionel was diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in 1997 at… Read More
  • Damon’s Story: I Did Not Fit the Profile of Your Typical Bladder Cancer Patient

    I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in October 2020 at the age of 58 but experienced symptoms two years before the diagnosis. On New Year’s Day in 2018, I noticed that I was passing what looked like blood clots. I just thought maybe I had too much champagne, or I… Read More