A Journey into Bladder Cancer

“ Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway… ” John Wayne ‘True Grit’ 1969. “Why John Wayne?” I hear you ask. Since being released from Hospital 6 days ago following a (hopefully) successful urethrectomy I have been walking like John Wayne with a bad case of rickets. However scared I may have been (and I was…) there’s no way in the World that I’ll be saddling up anytime soon and if that makes me a coward then I’ll happily take my custard and wear the badge with pride. This operation definitely wasn’t on my bucket list, yet at the same time I want the mass in my urethra gone as soon as possible before it can do any further damage. Having been given the positive cancer diagnosis only six days before the operation was booked, there has been little time to worry about the ‘what if’s.’  The operation I will have, called a urethrectomy, will completely remove the remains of my urethra (and hopefully all of the cancer contained within.) It is a completely different beast to ...

A minnie blog as I wait for the sun to rise…sorry, but there will be more. 5 years ago I was given fentanyl as pain relief, a powerful opioid that has wreaked havoc across America mainly thanks to Purdue Pharma causing untold numbers of people to become addicted to opioids through their unlawful, money driven marketing schemes. Their pill in question was Oxycontin. As Doctors massively over-prescribed this dangerous and highly addictive product patients quickly found that they needed more and more to keep the withdrawal effects at bay. The Doctors, many of whom received "bribes" from the Sales Teams, duly signed the prescriptions and Purdue Pharma released a double strength tablet… Some people discovered that if you crushed the tablet, therefore getting rid of its 'time release' properties you could get an instant hit of a drug more potent than morphine with a quantity meant to last 12 hours. Carnage ensued (and continues to...) Today it's my turn. Oxycodone. Same...

(First Published June 14th 2024) Ok, a bit of a sweary title but, to be honest, it’s been a bit of a sweary few weeks (it feels much, much longer…) I’m well aware that Cancel Culture has become a bit of a thing, generally propagated by those who spout absolute rubbish and then get all teary eyed when various platforms choose not to give them a mouthpiece, but I wasn’t aware that it was so prevalent in the NHS. 3 times…3 bloody times in a row I have had appointments and procedures cancelled, whilst in my most delicate area there is unwanted cell division playing merry havoc with my mental state. Broken machinery twice and Covid have been the causes and, as much as I could get heavily political and have a good rant, I won’t. My faith in humanity has been restored as it would appear that the architects of the wilful destruction of our once great NHS are soon to be consigned to the history books. It’s time to put all of the angst and bile behind me because, as of this morning, I finally ha...

( First Published May 5th 2024) May the 4th be with you… Yesterday was both Star Wars day plus the day I finally had the biopsy on the mass in my urethra under general anaesthetic. Was the force with me? We’ll never know but it was both a bad day and a good day and, as I write this (still feeling groggy from the anaesthetic plus with a certain amount of discomfort down below,) I feel in a much better place mentally than I did last week. Even though I was told it is highly likely that I have cancer and I will probably be fast tracked for further surgery. My day started early. I was due in the Ansty ward at the Princess Royal Hospital at 7.30am so naturally woke at about 4.30am (quite the norm these days.) We live semi rurally so at this time of year the dawn chorus is really something to behold. This can either be a blessing or a curse depending on your state of mind. It has been improved for me by my Mother in Law who, amongst her messages of support, has recommended the Merlin bird ap...

(First Published April 28th 2024) I think it’s good to pull the reader in with a catchy hook of a title. I’m not sure that dreary, cancer based titles are the way forward these days. There is special bonus content included…whether it comes across as special or a bonus is not for me to say, but more of that later. Back to the dreary cancer based blog. When I last wrote, last weekend, I was playing a waiting game. I am still playing a waiting game but much has changed. ‘Much has changed’ seems to be happening a lot at the moment. In many ways it is a good thing but I’m not convinced that I really need all this excitement in my life at the moment.  On Monday I had another phone call from the Hospital. The voice seemed very familiar and I think it was the lady that had diagnosed me as being cancer free whilst trying to book me in for a pre-op last Friday.  Positive news though, I’m booked in for a pre-op on Wednesday in two days time.  Wednesday arrives and I make my way to H...

(First Published April 21st 2024) It's been a fraction over five years since I first went to my G.P. with symptoms that led to a variety of tests, the conclusion of which was a positive diagnosis of bladder cancer. A major operation quickly followed to remove my bladder, my prostate gland and some lymph nodes.  I also had a section of my bowel removed to be made into a stoma  to divert urine from my kidneys.  (This is all documented in previous blogs for those that may not know my story and want to know all the gory details.) Now, I don’t know if this applies to all of those who have had cancer, but since this time there has been a small ball of anxiety hidden deep within me (about the size of a screwed up toffee wrapper I would say.)  It doesn’t do much. It doesn’t really affect my everyday life but it’s there and it tells me so every single day. About a month ago things changed. I started having some new symptoms and my toffee wrapper sized ball of anxiety quickly ...

(First Published August 16th 2022) I appreciate that my blogs are a bit self-indulgent. For me, I guess, that’s the point. I find putting my thoughts into words takes away some of the stress and worry… so I’ll come straight to the point. To cut a fairly short story shorter… My cystoscopy today showed no evidence of Cancer. Those of you who’ve bothered to read this far are now politely excused. For my own benefit I’m going to prattle on a little longer to try and get the previous week into some sort of perspective. Today is a good day! It is my 24th Wedding Anniversary. I was only at work for three and a half hours plus I’ve had the Hospital Appointment that has caused me more distress than any other and come away with the best possible result. I arrived at the Princess Royal Hospital early for my appointment as parking mid afternoon can be almost impossible due to visiting hours, and found a space immediately. This is almost unheard of at any time of day and I’m used to going around th...

(First Published August 10th 2022) Thursday August 5th 2019:   This is the day I was diagnosed with Carcinoma in Situ of the bladder. Bladder Cancer to be more direct. 3 years ago! What a crazy 3 years it has been. I have documented my ‘Cancer journey’ through previous blogs (still available for those interested) but we have also had the downfall of Trump, the downfall of Johnson (a similar tale,) war in Europe, Covid, Monkeypox, all the benefits of Brexit plus global warming in real time.  Friday 5th August 2022 was a good day for reflection. My recovery has been good. I have been back to working full time since Covid allowed and am very aware of both my strengths plus my limitations. I have had to make several changes along the way but have taken them all in my stride and have embraced the new normal. Saturday 6th August 2022: Three years and 1 day since I was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer I wake up to find blood dripping from the end of my penis. Shit! I mean, really…shit! ...

(First Published February 2020) Did someone say genius? Me…..?  Well, nearly, but sadly not. One of the changes to my day to day life since having my diseased bladder removed last September is the regular changing of my urostomy bag (aka wee bag or bag for life.) This I do every two or three days depending how busy I am.  There are several different bag manufacturers out there and a variety of different designs.  As we are all different shapes it can take a little time finding the products that suit our individual contours.  I am very fortunate in that the make and model of bag I first used in hospital is the same one I currently use. They have always been easy to fit, comfortable and, most importantly, don’t leak! One of my many faults is always thinking that I know best or can find a better way of doing things. The changing of the bag has proven to be no different.  It came to me last week that ultimate comfort could be achieved by attaching the new bag whilst...