Bladder cancer now with a stoma

Hi Alferd and a very warm welcome to the Community but I am sorry to hear about how you feel.

Navigating the cancer journey, regardless where you are in the journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked the ‘exact same' cancer journey can help you a lot. (I have a completely different cancer).

This New to Community area is like our reception desk where we look to try and direct you to the best part of the Community for you to get support.

The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend that you join and put up your own post in our dedicated Bladder Cancer and Stoma support group.

These groups are a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support. To connect in with the group please click on the links below…….

    Bladder cancer

    Ileostomy, colostomy and stoma support 

……. and when the group pages open you will see a [Black - Click to Join - Banner] at the bottom of the page, click in this box and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.

You can then introduce yourself to the group by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post]or [+] in the top right of the group page.

You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

The Macmillan Support Line is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support or just a listening ear.

Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing and give support to all the family.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

Hi Alferd, Sorry to hear you are finding it difficult to deal with. Having cancer is hard and having to have a stoma can be difficult as well. Recovery can take time and there is no one way to go. I can tell you how I have sorted myself out in case you can use any of it yourself.

1. My stoma nurse has helped a lot with the practical side especially re leaks and irritation.

2. Proper underwear helps a lot too to give me support when walking and exercising.

3. The psychological side hasn't bothered me, although my husband was very worried for a long time about that but once he could see that I was coping and we were back to life as normal (more or less) he calmed down.

4. I think I accepted it all quickly as I found there were a few positive things after the operation. For example, my mother died of bladder cancer 50 years ago - didn't see a doctor until too late. So I feel fortunate that mine could be treated. And then, after my bladder was removed I no longer had blood in my urine and the pain I had been suffering was gone plus having a night bag means I get a good night's sleep instead of waking several times to empty my bladder. 

Whatever is troubling you I am sure that if you talk to a counsellor they can give you the help you need. And I hope that you will be able to feel better about what has happened.