Our blog
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10 tips for carers
The Fight Bladder Cancer private forum is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a safe space for everyone who is affected by bladder cancer, not just patients. Anyone who has someone with bladder cancer in their life is welcome to join.
On the forum, you will find over 5,000 other people who have been affected by bladder cancer. People share their triumphs and challenges, their small joys and daily frustrations. It is a wonderful way to connect with other carers and a wealth of knowledge for any questions you may have, large or small.
If you are at the beginning of your caring journey, here are 10 tips, shared by patients and their families, that you may find useful:
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Tips & tricks for family members
Collated by Dr. Lydia Makaroff, CEO, Fight Bladder Cancer
We knew the members of our private support forum would be full of great advice, but even we were delighted with the response to our request for some tips and tricks for family members for the Carers’ edition of Fight magazine.
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Don’t Go Red, Go to a Doctor: We must break the stigma around ‘embarrassing’ bladder cancer symptoms to save lives!
May 2022
Bladder Cancer Awareness month is in May. This year, UK charity ‘Fight Bladder Cancer’ aims to break the stigma around symptoms deemed ‘embarrassing’ by patients to promote early diagnosis and save lives.
Common symptoms include the discovery of blood in the urine and the fact that this happens in intimate areas of the body, meaning that patients are often too embarrassed to talk about symptoms or seek a professional opinion.
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New immunotherapy is approved for some people after bladder cancer surgery on the NHS in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
July 2022
-The Department of Health and Social Care recommends Nivolumab for high-risk people who have had surgery to remove their bladder cancer to reduce the risk of cancer returning and where chemotherapy is unsuitable
-Nivolumab works by attaching to a protein called PD-L1, allowing the immune system to increase its activity against the cancer cells.
-Around 400 people each year will be able to access this treatment on the NHS. Clinical trials indicate that treatment reduces the risk of cancer coming back
-21,181 people are diagnosed with invasive and non-invasive bladder cancer in the UK every year. (www.cancerdata.nhs.uk/getdataout/bladder). Bladder cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the western world. For men, it is the 4th most common.
-Bladder cancer currently receives just 1% of cancer research funding in the UK despite the high number of people diagnosed.
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Dorothy Markham on being a Community Champion
Dorothy Markham was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016 when she was 80 years old. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in raising awareness of the disease in the community. Upon diagnosis, she was shocked at the lack of information for the public on bladder cancer, so she decided to get in touch with Andrew Winterbottom, founder of Fight Bladder Cancer. He gave her knowledge and insight on how she could raise awareness and work with Fight Bladder Cancer.
Four years ago, she set up the Scottish steering group, which gave her an excellent opportunity to move forward with Fight Bladder Cancer. With Dorothy leading the way, the steering group has gone from strength to strength, and they recently managed to get Fight Bladder Cancer registered as an official charity in Scotland.
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Kimberley & Andrew's story
Tragically, Kimberley Greaves became a young widow at just 44. Her husband, Andrew, died three and a half years after receiving a bladder cancer diagnosis.
Andrew had been passing blood in his urine but had put off visiting a GP due to his busy job, though Kimberley was keen for him to be checked. Andrew had the symptoms for about 5/6 months before he sought help from a GP. However, a urine sample showed that his results were clear, and no further action was taken. It was only later, after the blood in his urine became darker, and he started passing clots, that Andrew took himself to A&E, where he was advised to get a referral to urology. The urology appointment confirmed tumours in his bladder, and a biopsy revealed that he had bladder cancer.
A lack of awareness of bladder cancer amongst people means the initial symptoms of the disease are often missed. Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer, and further tests should have been done when Andrew presented with his symptoms. Early diagnosis of bladder cancer is vital and gives patients the best chances of successful treatment and recovery.
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New immunotherapy is approved for some people after bladder cancer surgery on the NHS in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
The Department of Health and Social Care recommends nivolumab for high-risk people who have had surgery to remove their bladder cancer to reduce the risk of cancer returning and where chemotherapy is unsuitable. Nivolumab works by attaching to a protein called PD-L1, allowing the immune system to increase its activity against the cancer cells. Around 400 people each year will be able to access this treatment on the NHS. Clinical trials indicate that treatment reduces the risk of cancer coming back.
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Life after bladder cancer can still be beautiful
David Ritchie's story
David Ritchie was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer in 2019 and was left utterly devastated. He had always been extremely healthy and a keen runner. So, after being told what would need to happen to treat his bladder cancer, he felt his world had ended.
However, it had not. David has since gone on to run a marathon and has many more planned. Life for David is different, but absolutely do-able! Read David's inspiring story of determination below.
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Bladder Cancer Awareness Month Fundraising Heroes
2021
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month of 2021 was extremely successful! There were lots of creative and fun ideas used to raise awareness of bladder cancer and create vital funds. Take a look and get inspired!
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Never ignore blood in your urine: Julia's experience
Julia MacLeod's story
This year for bladder cancer awareness month, we are urging people to speak up about their symptoms to try and remove the embarrassment people may experience. Often these feelings mean people delay getting their symptoms checked, which may in turn prevent an early diagnosis.
To help with raising awareness, Julia MacLeod shares the symptoms which led to her bladder cancer diagnosis. Julia explains she had "no awareness of what blood in the urine could mean" before being diagnosed.
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We’ve tried to make the information on this site as accurate as possible. Whilst we have support from medical professionals to review the general medical content of this site, please remember that only your medical team can give you specific advice about your symptoms or illness. Fight Bladder Cancer is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation in Scotland (SC051881), England and Wales (1198773), and was initially established as an unincorporated charity in England and Wales (1157763). It also operates in Northern Ireland.