Bladder Cancer Matters

In Episode 45 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with a very special guest, Kristen. She was diagnosed with bladder cancer at 22 years of age (the average age at diagnosis is 73). She had to fight for a correct diagnosis, including when one of her doctors told her that she was just "getting fat." Kristen S. Rick and and Kristen chat about her journey and how she struggled to get her...

In Episode 44 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Thomas Flaig, MD, a genitourinary cancer medical oncologist and vice chancellor for research for the University of Colorado Denver and Anschutz Medical Campuses. In addition to his clinical and administrative work, Dr. Flaig has significant clinical and translational research experience, having led both local and national multi-ce...

In Episode 43 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with bladder cancer survivor, Sue.  Sue's story is both meaningful and inspirational - bladder cancer was her third different cancer diagnosis.  Rick and Sue talk about: The signs and symptoms that Sue experienced with her prior diagnoses for thyroid and breast cancer What drove her to see her doctor when she began experiencing blood...

In Episode 42 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks Rebecca Yannopoulos , BCAN's Senior Development Manager and the person who has made Walks to End Bladder Cancer happen since 2017.  Rick and Rebecca chat about: Her work supporting BCAN's dedicated Walk volunteers and fundraisers How the Walks to End Bladder Cancer got started When people should start planning to do a Walk How people...

In Episode 41 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with Michelle Colero and Cassandra Schooley, both of Bladder Cancer Canada (BCC). Michelle is the organization's Executive Director and Cassandra is its Communications Specialist. Rick, Michelle and Cassandra talk about: The history of collaboration between BCAN and Bladder Cancer Canada How Canada has greatly improved their supply of...

In Episode 40 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with Rebecca Johnson , the Director of Research at the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. Rebecca is responsible for the day-to-day operational oversight and management of all research grant activities. She also manages BCAN grants from pre-award through award close-out while working closely with BCAN's senior management team and Board...

In Episode 39 of " Bladder Cancer Matters ," host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Matthew Mossanen about what pathology is and why it matters to bladder cancer patients. Dr. Mossanen is a urologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, holds a Master's Degree in Public Health and is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Matthew Mossanen Rick and Dr. Mossanen talk about: What pathol...

In Episode 38 of " Bladder Cancer Matters ," host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Dipen Parekh about robotic cystectomies. Dr. Parekh is the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Miami Health System, Chairman of Urology, and the Dr. Victor Politano Endowed Chair in Clinical Urology at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. He also serves as the Director of Robotic Surgery at th...

In Episode 37 of " Bladder Cancer Matters ," host Rick Bangs talks with two-time return guest Dr. Ashish Kamat. Dr. Kamat is a professor of urology and director of bladder cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He's also a member of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network's Scientific Advisory Board . Rick and Dr. Kamat talk about what is on the mind of many bladder cancer pat...

In Episode 36 of " Bladder Cancer Matters ," host Rick Bangs talks with BCAN patient advocate and bladder cancer survivor, James "Jim" Scott. Jim was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2015 and is an active BCAN patient advocate, on the Patient Advisory Panel of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC), and a consumer reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, amo...

In Episode 35 of " Bladder Cancer Matters ," host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Lee Hugar of Lexington Urology at Lexington Medical Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Hugar is recognized nationally as an advocate for incorporating palliative care into urologic care, maximizing both cancer control and quality of life for patients with any stage of urologic cancer. Read this episode's transcript Ri...

In Episode 34 of " Bladder Cancer Matters ," host Rick Bangs talks with Cindy Myers, RN BSN CWON. Cindy is a Certified Wound and Ostomy Nurse Specialist who has worked extensively with bladder cancer patients who undergone radical cystectomies. Rick and Cindy discuss: What an ostomy is and the types of ostomies that are used by patients, especially bladder cancer patients The role that ostomy nurs...

This this podcast, " Bladder Cancer Matters " host Rick Bangs talks with Ms. Jackie Imboden. Jackie is a special advisor for military exposures for the Veterans Benefits Administration or VBA, which provides disability compensation benefits to millions of veterans and their survivors. In her current role, she serves as a key advisor on military environmental exposures for disability compensation c...

In Episode 32, Part 2 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Robert Svatek . Dr. Svatek is one of the top five highest-volume bladder cancer surgeons in the United States, performing over 60 bladder removal procedures (cystectomies) yearly. Choosing a urinary diversion is among the most difficult decisions patients must make and Dr. Svatek provides valuable information about how...

In Episode 32, Part 1 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Robert Svatek . Dr. Svatek is one of the top five highest-volume bladder cancer surgeons in the United States, performing over 60 bladder removal procedures (cystectomies) yearly. Choosing a urinary diversion is among the most difficult decisions patients must make and Dr. Svatek provides valuable information about how...

In Episode 31 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Sima Porten , a urologic cancer surgeon at the University of California San Francisco, about how COVID changed the way that bladder cancer doctors and patients interact. Rick and Dr. Porten talk about: Some of the experiences of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic How medical distancing impacted Dr. Porten personally as wel...

In Episode 30 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Joshua Meeks. Dr. Meeks is the Section Chief of Robotic Surgery at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Urology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine . Rick and Dr, Meeks talk about:   Options available to veterans who are bladder cancer patie...

In Episode 29 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs offers Part III of the three-part podcast with long time patient advocate and 2022 Beacon of Hope Award winner, Karen Godfrey. Karen is the organizer of the Southwest Florida Bladder Cancer Support Group and has been active with BCAN since nearly the very beginning. Rick and Karen talk about her experience managing what was an in-person supp...

In Episode 29 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs offers Part II of the three-part podcast with long time patient advocate and 2022 Beacon of Hope Award winner, Karen Godfrey. Karen is the organizer of the Southwest Florida Bladder Cancer Support Group and has been active with BCAN since the very beginning. Rick and Karen talk about how she started the BCAN Inspire community and how the gro...

In Episode 29 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs begins a three-part podcast with long time patient advocate and 2022 Beacon of Hope Award winner, Karen Godfrey. Karen is the organizer of the Southwest Florida Bladder Cancer Support Group. Rick and Karen talk about her initial bladder cancer diagnosis in 2003 and how there was little to no information available about having her bladder rem...

In Episode 28 of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with bladder cancer patient Cindy Lawson DeVore, who gives her unique perspective on her journey with the disease.  Cindy has been a patient, her father is a retired urologist, and Cindy's mom was diagnosed with bladder cancer a short two months after she was.  She has seen bladder cancer from multiple angles. Cindy also speaks openly...

Tom had a history of cancer in his family, but never expected what happened to him. After not feeling well for a while, Tom was diagnosed with both pancreatic cancer and bladder cancer. In this episode, he talks with BCAN associate Joslyn Brown about his two cancer journeys and offers an optimistic and uplifting perspective, particularly about his bouts with bladder cancer. Tom is also active with...

In Part 2 of two part Episode 24 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Bernard Bochner about the findings from a quality of life survey of bladder cancer patients after they have their bladders removed (radical cystectomy). Rick and Dr. Bochner discuss life after a radical cystectomy and they also talk about:   How recovery from bladder removal surgery can be impacted by how he...

In this very special episode of Bladder Cancer Matters , host Rick Bangs talks with Karen Sachse.  Karen has a one-in-a-million perspective on bladder cancer because she is an oncology nurse, a nurse navigator, a bladder cancer survivor and was a caregiver to her husband, Roger, who passed away from the disease.  She is also a very active patient advocate with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network ....

One of Season 1's most popular episodes was What You Need to Know About COVID Vaccines and Bladder Cancer with Dr. Seth Lerner and Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn . Given the changing nature of COVID transmission and the availability of vaccinations, Drs. Lerner and Woc-Colburn have updates about vaccinations for patients in the bladder cancer community. Dr. Seth Lerner of Baylor College of Medicine, a blad...