Bladder Cancer Stories

Bladder Cancer Stories

Welcome to our bladder cancer stories page. 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.

Watch Our New Awareness Series

Bladder Cancer 101

Check out our bladder cancer overview and get answers to some of the most common questions about it. Then get real-world answers from our patient stories.

  • Types of bladder cancer
  • How bladder cancer spreads
  • Bladder cancer stages
  • Gender differences

Bladder Cancer Stories

Vickie D.

Vickie D., Bladder Cancer



Symptoms: Intermittent pain in the gut and burning sensation

Treatments: Chemotherapy (dd-MVAC), surgery (cystectomy)

The Lasting Impact: Bladder Cancer in Those Who Served



Wally shares his real-life experience with bladder cancer, showing how strength, support, and great care helped him face the challenge head-on.
Michelle R. feature profile

Michelle R., Recurrent Bladder Cancer, Stage 1



Symptoms: Irregular occurrences of seeing streaks of blood in urine, specific type of pain when bladder is full, unexplained weight loss, urinary urgency, malaise, fatigue
Treatments: Chemotherapy, surgery (TURBT: transurethral resection of bladder tumor)

Margo W., Bladder Cancer, Stage 1



Symptom: Blood in urine

Treatments: Chemotherapy, surgery (radical cystectomy)
LaSonya D. feature profile

LaSonya D., Bladder Cancer, High-Grade



Symptom: Blood in urine
Treatments: BCG immunotherapy, surgery (cystectomy)

Bladder Cancer Resources


Bladder Cancer Causes & Symptoms



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

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Bladder Cancer Medical Experts

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.


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

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

Understanding cancer blood test results

Understanding Cancer Blood Tests

Join hematopathologist Dr. Kamran Mirza and cancer advocate Stephanie Chuang to break down the most common diagnostic tests, including the CBC.
blood test vials for a CBC test.

What is a CBC Test?


What is a CBC Test?

Learn about what a CBC test is and how the test can be used to help diagnose and monitor the progress of different types of cancer.

Hair Loss and Regrowth After Chemotherapy

Hear how cancer patients dealt with hair loss after chemotherapy and what some of them used to help growth after that loss.
Kelly T. feature profile

Kelly’s Stage 3C Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Story


Kelly T., Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Stage 3C



Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes on the neck, high white blood count
Treatments: Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, carboplatin, capecitabine), surgery (nipple-sparing, skin-sparing double mastectomy), radiation, hormone therapy (tamoxifen)
Advances in GVHD Treatments and Clinical Trials

Advances in GVHD Treatments and Clinical Trials


Advances in GVHD Treatments and Clinical Trials



Hematologist-oncologists Dr. Satyajit Kosuri and Dr. Shernan Holtan, patient advocate Meredith Cowden, and LLS clinical trial nurse navigator Ashley Giacobbi discuss the role clinical trials play in advancing the GVHD treatment landscape.
Susan K. feature profile

Susan’s Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Story


Susan K., Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia



Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes on the neck, high white blood count
Treatments: Venetoclax & obinutuzumab