BCAN LV Walk to End Bladder Cancer - PeeTown Survivors

12/08/2023

It’s been a while since I’ve posted to our page.
My yearly anniversary has come and gone. This years scan was a bit different as I had been having some complications with my kidneys, which is to be expected after bladder removal. My creatinine levels were a bit high, which means some hydration was needed…
On November 16th I spent 2 hours prior and 2 hrs after my scan in the infusion room at the St Luke’s-Sacred Heart campus receiving the fluids I needed.

Lucky for me a clean bill of health was handed to me a week later.

Here’s to 7 years Cancer free!

06/07/2022

The 2022 BCAN Virtual Walk is official in the books.

I’d like to thank everyone that was able to come out and walk with me on Saturday.

It was the most perfect day, weather wise and support wise. Without all of you in my life this journey would be daunting to say the least.

See you next year!

06/04/2022

Love this Kid 🧡

06/04/2022

https://secure2.convio.net/bcani/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1035693&pg=personal&fr_id=1799

Don't forget to register for today's virtual walk!!!

I am raising funds for the more than 723,000 people living with bladder cancer in the United States, to support the nearly 83,000 people who will be diagnosed this year, and to honor the 17,000 who will succumb to this disease.  The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is the only national advoca...

06/01/2022

Don’t forget to join our team, The PeeTown Survivors!
This Saturday we will be walking to bring awareness to Bladder Cancer.

I am raising funds for the more than 723,000 people living with bladder cancer in the United States, to support the nearly 83,000 people who will be diagnosed this year, and to honor the 17,000 who will succumb to this disease. The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) is the only national advoca....

05/20/2022

John and I grew up in the small town of Palmerton, PA (P-Town), at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Best known for Blue Mountain Ski Area, The Blue Bombers and Horsehead Industries.
The Pee-Town Survivors are two bladder cancer survivors diagnosed with the same cancer but different spectrums of the disease. It still shocks us today that two grade school friends ended up with the same disease, just a month apart.
Now as a part of the bladder cancer community we have taken a new stance to the word Pee-Town.
Here are our stories.

Lina – Diagnosed at age 41.
My husband and I had been doing multiple rounds of IVF, in hopes of growing our family.
I had problems with my bladder for as long as I could remember including inflammation, recurring UTI’s blood in the urine, and kidney stones. During fertility the doctor noticed that my bladder was not emptying, after just voiding prior to the checkup. An ultrasound was done, when a small cyst was seen in the image. We continued with our regimen of fertility, harvesting 18 eggs.
Fast forward to late 2015, we have one viable egg and implantation worked! We were expecting our third* child. But by January 2016 we received the devastating news that I would miscarry yet again for the second time. (Angel Babies Nov 2009 & Jan 2016)
My body never really recovered, and I couldn’t figure out why.
Fast forward to July 4, 2016, a bathroom trip ended with a toilet bowl filled with blood, I had hemorrhaged.
By August 1st, I was officially part of the cancer statistic, T3 invasive high grade (urothelial) bladder carcinoma. I have cancer…
“You’ll start Chemo immediately, for prevention of any new cell growth. Then you’ll rest and get your levels back up where we feel you’ll be ready for surgery, because we will need to remove your bladder.”
November 17, 2016, after a 14-hour surgery, at Fox Chase, I had a new bladder, a new outlook on life and an amazing team who got me there, along with the love and support of family and friends.
Support is by far what got me through this daunting part of my life.

John - Diagnosed at age 41.
It was August 2016 and I saw something that didn't seem right....blood in my urine. It was more like a pink-ish color, but certainly not something I ever saw before.
I casually made an appointment with a urologist. My doctor appointment was the next week and I was sent for blood work and an ultrasound of my bladder.
That same night, my best friend Lina called. She had some news; she was just diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. This all became very real, very fast!
One week later my diagnoses was in, I had a Ta high-grade Papillary Tumor inside my bladder.....Bladder Cancer, We caught it early so the most effective treatment was BCG (Bacillius Calmette-Guerin). BCG is an immunotherapy and it's used to prompt the immune system to attack cancer cells.
I'm so thankful that I went to LVPG- Urology. I felt in good hands from the beginning!
I want to add that some people have huge support systems from their family and friends. While others are more private. I'm the private type. My wife and I handled it all, together, from start to end.
15 BCG treatments in all, from October 2016 to April 2018. I just wanted to be done with it.....no sense speaking about it was my motto! I'm only writing about it now, to raise awareness.
Bladder cancer is on an alarming rise and that creates a shortage in BCG immunotherapy. https://bcan.org/bcg-shortage-bladder-cancer/
Help us to fundraise toward the research and development of new and improved treatments for Bladder cancer!

We, the Pee-Town Survivors are walking as a team to raise funds for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN), the only national advocacy organization devoted to advancing bladder cancer research and supporting those impacted by the disease. By making a donation to our team, you will be helping BCAN promote bladder cancer research, education and support programs – but, most importantly, to save lives.
Bladder cancer is the sixth-most diagnosed cancer in the United States. This year, more than 81,000 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer and more than 17,000 will die from this disease.
How you can help:
DONATE NOW to help support those affected by bladder cancer and to help us reach our goal. Any generous contribution helps. (Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $100. Every little bit helps.)
JOIN OUR TEAM and invite others you know to do the same.
https://secure2.convio.net/bcani/site/TR/Walk/General?px=1035693&pg=personal&fr_id=1799

Facts:
Right now, more than 600,000 people are living with bladder cancer in the United States.
Proceeds from the Walk will go to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN), a community of passionate individuals united in support of people touched by bladder cancer.

BCG shortage: BCAN addresses what they are doing to advocate for a change in the distribution of BCG to avoid another BCG Shortage.

02/27/2022

A common childhood viral infection causes damage to cells in the bladder which may lead to cancer, a new study has shown.

02/18/2022

We are proud to announce a new resource for bladder cancer patients and caregivers. It's our "Bladder Cancer by State" project. In it, you'll find bladder cancer resources in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, VA hospitals, ways to contact your elected representatives along with a list of bladder cancer clinical trials in each state. Click here to visit this section: https://bcan.org/bladder-cancer-by-state/

01/18/2022

Good evening Bladder Cancer supporters!

I, along with BCAN are working to create a Bladder Cancer Walk, which will take place this spring. Event date TBD.

We are looking for volunteers in the areas of, but not limited to:
• Event planning
• Fundraising
• Sponsor/Guest Engagement
• Sponsor Tents
• Volunteers (Day of Event)

We are looking for someone willing to MC, along with the special guest speakers. (a generator will be provided)

Also needed:
Event sponsors
Balloon arch sponsor

More information to come.
TYIA

05/01/2021

A bladder cancer group that I follow posted today that they added 36 new members in the past week.

In 2021, an estimated 83,730 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the US and 17,200 people will die from the disease. The incidence rate is about 4 times higher in men than in women and 2 times higher in White men than in Black men.

After increasing slowly since the mid-1970s, bladder cancer incidence rates declined from 2008 to 2017 by about 1% per year.

The death rate for bladder cancer declined by 0.6% per year from 2009 to 2018 on average, with an acceleration in progress in the most recent years.

Risk factors: Smoking is the most well-established risk factor for bladder cancer, accounting for almost half (47%) of all cases in the US. Risk is also increased among workers in the dye, rubber, leather, and aluminum industries; painters; people who live in communities with high levels of arsenic in the drinking water; and people with certain bladder birth defects or long-term urinary catheters.

Early detection: There is currently no screening method recommended for people at average risk. People at increased risk may be screened by examination of the bladder wall with a cystoscope (slender tube fitted with a camera lens and light that is inserted through the urethra), microscopic examination of cells from urine or bladder tissue, or other tests.

Signs and symptoms: Bladder cancer is usually detected early because of blood in the urine or other symptoms, including increased frequency or urgency of urination, or pain or irritation during urination.

This is why we walk! Join the BCAN family today from the comfort of your own neighborhood as we walk to raise awareness for this devastating disease.

John and I grew up in the small town of Palmerton, PA (P-Town), at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Best known for Blue Mountain Ski Area, The Blue Bombers and Horsehead Industries.