Bladder Cancer Stories

Bladder Cancer Stories

Bladder cancer starts when cells that make up the urinary bladder start to grow out of control. As more cancer cells develop, they can form a tumor and, with time, spread to other parts of the body.

Bladder cancers are often described based on how far they have spread into the wall of the bladder:

  • Non-invasive: tumors in a small section of tissue or cancer that’s only on or near the surface of your bladder.
  • Non-muscle-invasive: moved deeper into your bladder but hasn’t spread to muscle.
  • Muscle-invasive: has grown into bladder wall muscle and may have spread into the fatty layers or tissues on organs outside of your bladder.

Bladder Cancer Stories

Vickie D.

Vickie D.



Symptoms: Intermittent pain in the gut and burning sesnsation
Treatment: Chemotherapy (dd-MVAC) and cystectomy (bladder removal surgery)

Margo W.



1st Symptoms: Blood in urine



Treatment: Chemotherapy (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) and radical cystectomy
LaSonya D. feature profile

LaSonya D.



Symptom: Blood in urine
Treatment: BCG immunotherapy, cystectomy (bladder removal surgery)
LaSonya D. feature profile
LaSonya D., Bladder Cancer Diagnosis: High-Grade Bladder Cancer Symptoms: Clumps of blood in urine Treatment: Surgery, bladder removal, urinary diversion
Karen R. feature photo

Karen R.



Symptoms: Recurrent UTIs
Treatment: BCG immunotherapy

Ebony G.



1st Symptoms: Blood in urine, weight gain



Treatment: MVAC chemotherapy, bladder removal surgery, neobladder

Diagnosis and Treatment for Bladder Cancer

Learn about the diagnosis and treatment process from bladder cancer survivors and medical experts. Discover diagnosis and treatment options./p>


Bladder Cancer Series



Bladder cancer patients Ebony & LaSonya talk about their cancer journey, including their first symptoms, how they processed their diagnosis, treatment options, and how they found support. Dr. Samuel Washington, a urologic surgeon, also gives an overview of bladder cancer and its treatments.

Bladder Cancer Causes & Symptoms

Understand common bladder cancer causes, urine color, symptoms, and treatments as described by real patients./p>

Bladder Cancer Resources


Bladder Cancer Causes & Symptoms

Understand common bladder cancer causes, urine color, symptoms, and treatments as described by real patients./p>
...

Bladder Cancer Series



Bladder cancer patients Ebony & LaSonya talk about their cancer journey, including their first symptoms, how they processed their diagnosis, treatment options, and how they found support. Dr. Samuel Washington, a urologic surgeon, also gives an overview of bladder cancer and its treatments.
...

Diagnosis and Treatment for Bladder Cancer

Learn about the diagnosis and treatment process from bladder cancer survivors and medical experts. Discover diagnosis and treatment options./p>

...

Bladder Cancer Medical Experts


Dr. Samuel Washington, MD, MAS



Role: Assistant Professor of Urology, UCSF



Focus: Treatment disparities in bladder cancer treatment



Provider: University of California San Francisco
Dr. Alok Tewari

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Dr. Christopher Weight, M.D.



Role: Center Director Urologic Oncology
Focus: Urological oncology, including kidney, prostate, bladder cancers
Provider: Cleveland Clinic

More Information About Bladder Cancer

For more information about Bladder Cancer and additional patients stories visit the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network’s (BCAN) website.


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