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

Bladder Cancer Causes & Symptoms While the specific cause of bladder cancer may be unknown, there are risk factors and symptoms that may indicate you should take extra precautions to limit your chances of getting bladder cancer or may already have it. In this article, we look at the gene mutations that cause bladder cancer,

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.

Ebony G.



1st Symptoms: Blood in urine, weight gain



Treatment: MVAC chemotherapy, bladder removal surgery, neobladder
Bladder Cancer 101: Understanding Types, Stages, and Spread Welcome to our comprehensive overview of bladder cancer, where we will delve into important aspects such as symptoms, causes, stages, and treatment options. The bladder, a hollow organ located in the pelvis, plays a crucial role in storing urine as part of the urinary tract. When the
Karen R. feature photo

Karen R.



Symptoms: Recurrent UTIs
Treatment: BCG immunotherapy
LaSonya D. feature profile

LaSonya D.



Symptom: Blood in urine
Treatment: BCG immunotherapy, cystectomy (bladder removal surgery)

Margo W.



1st Symptoms: Blood in urine



Treatment: Chemotherapy (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) and radical cystectomy
Vickie D.

Vickie D.



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

Bladder Cancer Resources

Bladder Cancer Series Bladder cancer patients Ebony & LaSonya talk about their cancer journey, including their...

Bladder Cancer Medical Experts


Dr. Christopher Weight, M.D.



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

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

Testicular Cancer: What Patients Need to Know



Medical oncologist Alok Tewari, MD, PhD, who specializes in cancers arising from the genitourinary tract, discusses what patients need to know about testicular cancer.


More Information About Bladder Cancer

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


Navigating Life with Cancer

Learn more about navigating life with cancer from some of our most recent posts.

reclaiming your energy in CLL

Fatigue Relief in CLL: Expert Tips from Dr. Shazia K. Nakhoda

Read how physical activity can play a crucial role in enhancing overall well-being

Embracing Physical Activity for DLBCL Management: Expert Insights from Dr. Joshua Brody

Read how physical activity can play a crucial role in enhancing overall well-being

Chemo Diet: Eating Healthy During Cancer Treatment | The Patient Story

It can be hard to stay healthy and in balance when you're going through chemotherapy. Here are some ways you can optimize your eating habits to alleviate some common chemotherapy side effects.

Cancer Organizations

Choose from over 40 cancer organizations and nonprofits for any cancer type and location Find where to get help for financial, housing, transportation and more.
chemo brain

Chemo Brain: What It Is and How To Cope

Read how cancer patients, caregivers, and coworkers can cope with chemo brain during cancer treatment

Patient Self-Advocacy | Hodgkin Lymphoma

From 1st symptoms of cancer to how we communicate with our doctors, the importance of patients advocating for themselves is key to getting through diagnosis and treatment in the best way possible.
Hodgkin lymphoma patients/survivors share how they were able to advocate for themselves throughout their cancer care.
Marsha with husband Armaray

Marsha’s Myeloma Caregiver Story


Marsha Calloway-Campbell, Spouse of Myeloma Patient

"Once you are taking care of someone with myeloma, be their advocate because it’s a journey. It can be challenging at times so they need somebody."
Dr. Fumiko Chino feature profile

Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment


Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment



Dr. Fumiko Chino opens up about her late husband’s diagnosis and the financial toll it had on them.