Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
May is bladder cancer awareness month. Whether you are directly impacted, or you'd like to find out more, we have information that can help.
'One of the most important things I did was go through that door to the Macmillan information and support centre' - Steven, diagnosed with bladder cancer
Support for people living with bladder cancer
Information about bladder cancer on our website
We have information about bladder cancer on our website, including:
We also have information about the impacts of cancer and its treatments and about supporting someone with cancer.
Accessing Macmillan services
To find out more about Macmillan can support you, get in touch.
- Call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, open 7 days a week 8am to 8pm
- Get specialist support online through our chat service, open 7 days a week 8am to 8pm
- Use our support guide and answer some quick questions to get information tailored to you or your loved one's situation.
Bladder cancer support groups
We can help you find support in your local area, so you can speak to people who understand what you or your loved ones are going through.
The bladder cancer forum on our Online Community is a place to chat to others and ask questions.
Read a blog from the Online Community which highlights the bladder cancer support available on the Online Community.
Resources and further reading
We have a number of resources and further readings available on bladder cancer:
- Booklets - Understanding muscle-invasive and advanced bladder cancer and Understanding non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer booklets
- Audiobooks - Understanding muscle-invasive and advanced bladder cancer and Understanding non-muscle-invasive bladder audiobooks
Other organisations who can help
- Action Bladder Cancer UK - supporting bladder cancer patients, raising awareness, improving early diagnosis, and funding research related to bladder cancer.
- Fight Bladder Cancer - raising awareness, supporting medical research and advocating for change in bladder cancer treatments.
Stories from those affected by bladder cancer
'One of the reasons I never talked about my issue was because I felt I had no right to feel upset or traumatised after being given the all clear. Now I know that this isn't true. Cancer affects us all; Whether you have cancer, had cancer, or are a family member/friend who acts as a support network - we all go through a variety of stress and mixed feelings at these times. It's important for us all to pull together and support each other.'
'Since my initial diagnosis I have continued monitoring and treatment. I had a course of mitomycin chemotherapy which unfortunately failed before moving on to start BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guérin) immunotherapy treatment. I had several rounds of this and was all clear for over a year. Unfortunately bladder cancer has a habit of recurring and my cancer came back again at the start of 2022.
'I am now onto my second lot of BCG treatments and so far things are going well. We make sure we pack as much fun as possible into the times between my treatments and checks. We're open and honest with my little boy about mummy's hospital trips, he knows it's just something that happens sometimes. Living with cancer isn't always easy but I love the life we have created around it.'
Ways to help this Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Macmillan is here for everybody living with cancer, with our specialist information, support and services. But we couldn't do it without our incredible supporters. Here are a few ways you can get involved.
