Mural by Nulon in Hamburg – photo by howlzap Cologne
May is Bladder Cancer Awareness month. BCAN has organised a virtual walk for bladder cancer with proceeds going to bladder cancer research. They say on the site that bladder cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer. The seventh yet it’s still not very well-known. Unfortunately, it has many faces now not just the original male and over 70 years old demographic more and more women and younger people are suffering from it too.
I’ve decided to sign up for the walk and dedicate 10,000 steps to bladder cancer tomorrow if it’s fine otherwise Sunday or Monday. If you feel inspired check out the site, download the app, tell your friends and family and get moving for a good cause. The colour is orange I don’t have an orange t-shirt to wear but I do have this orange graffiti post and I planted the orange banner flag outside my front door this morning.
mybigfatbritishbladdercancer is collecting faces and stories for #facesofbladdercancer2020 follow one of her social media sites for details and send your story or follow the hashtag.
Surely one reason bladder cancer’s not so well known is the shame and discomfort that comes with talking about “waterworks”, “pee”, “wee” or “urine”. People don’t feel comfortable but it’s as natural as drinking and eating and we need to:
- stop feeling ashamed and start talking about it
- urge anyone who possibly has symptoms to go and get them checked
- spread the word about the disease
So, if you or a loved one have any blood in your urine, increased frequency or urgency, unexplained lower back pain or persistent UTI’s (urinary tract infections) it could be a sign that something else is wrong. Please be courageous and get it checked more thoroughly. If you have had it checked but have been told it’s nothing and you think otherwise persist.
Catching cancer early means it is more treatable!
Bladdergraffiti 