My Bladder Cancer Fight

Yesterday, I received an email from a lady stating that her husband, who is 39 years old, is going for a bladder scope in two weeks.

Since this lady contacted me through my website, at least she is thinking of the possibility of cancer. As I told her, the final answer will come from the pathology of the material taken from the bladder by the Urologist. Good or bad.

One statement that she made emphasizes the reason that I am doing this blog and telling my story about fighting bladder cancer. She hinted that they received very little information about what may be going on from their Family Physician. This I have heard time and time again, since being diagnosed, from many, many cancer people.

Thinking back to my own case and the time when I was diagnosed, I received nothing in the way of information from my Family Physician or the Urologist. The only thing that I got from the Urologist was the statement “You bladder has to be removed, you have a very aggressive cancer”. All I could think about was that the grim reaper was banging on my door.

Now what can be more scary and devastating news than that. No offer of counseling or telling me what my life would be like after my bladder was removed. Not squat. I was left entirely alone to let my mind sift through this statement. As I have stated before, it was the most devastating news that I had ever received in my 61 years of living.

With news like this, whom can you turns to? Luckily for me, after getting over the initial shock, I realized that I did have my Family and Friends and my computer. Without those three, I do not know how I would have handled things. As I stated in my post ‘To tell Or Not To Tell’, talking to Family and Friends was the best therapy for me. I needed to talk about it. I did not need or want sympathy, just someone to listen to me vent.

Follow all the advice, from the Doctors, regarding the technical aspect of this disease. But when it comes to seeking advice on the mental handling of this disease, look elsewhere. Yes, some Doctors will be excellent in giving support information but they are rare. Thinking back, on my own case, I want the Doctors skills to be on the technical side. He does not need to have the greatest bedside manner just be top dog on the technical side. Isn’t this really what we want? I know it is what I want. I know absolutely nothing about the technical side of this disease so I must put my absolute trust in the person that I choose to free me of this disease or to at least slow it down.

The Internet is a good place to find information about cancer. From technical information to personal stories of people who are fighting this disease. To me, personal experience from others can be invaluable.

• What were they thinking?

• How did they handle this problem?

• Am I alone in this fight?

• What can I do?

• How do they feel about …?

This is why I want other cancer patients to share there stories with me so that I can post them and help those who are just beginning their fight.

• Yes, it is a fight.

• Yes, it is a fight that we can win.

PS - To my Email writer - talk, talk, talk about what is going on and do lots of research on the net. Lets all hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Posted on January 23rd, 2008 by Neil
Filed under: My Cancer, Share Your Story