Bladder Cancer Canada works to spread awareness in Saskatoon

A Saskatoon woman is sharing her experience with bladder cancer in hopes of helping others. Hallee Mandryk reports.

When Audrey Wall received a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2017, it ignited a lot of fear and uncertainty.

“I saw a urologist, and they found out that there was a tumor in my bladder, which was shocking. It’s devastating, actually, when you have that C-word come across you to have cancer,” Wall said.

The diagnosis came right before Wall’s 60th birthday. She shared that she scheduled a doctor’s appointment after experiencing one of the most common symptoms of bladder cancer.

“I was a fairly busy person. I loved walking and biking and all these kinds of things. And then I started having some red when I urinated and I was pretty scared about that...I started having some tests and, different scans and things,” Wall said.

Wall spent the next two and a half years going through treatment for her cancer. She told CTV News that while she put a lot of effort into remaining positive and staying as healthy as possible, the experience was a very isolating one. Wall said one of the activities that helped her throughout treatment was a skill that she continues to practice to this day: painting.

“I went for a class and was good, and I really enjoyed it. And then I just started all on my own and just started painting more and more. And I just love it. It was a way to focus off my cancer and to focus on a hobby that I really started to enjoy,” Wall said.

Now, Wall is eight years cancer-free, and she is using her story and personal experiences to help others alongside Bladder Cancer Canada.

“I had no one to talk to, no one that had experienced this kind of thing before. And I thought it would be so good to have a one on one conversation, which I did. And so I became a one on one support person for others that are going through cancer and going through treatment like mine,” Wall said.

Bladder Cancer Canada aims to raise awareness for the disease, educate the public on the signs and symptoms, and fundraise for bladder cancer specific research.

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Michelle Colero is the executive director of Bladder Cancer Canada, and the vice president and treasurer for World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition. She said the lack of awareness and education can often lead to feelings of isolation or a loss of control among those who receive a diagnosis.

“People don’t realize you have the right to a second opinion. You have the right to try and find other treatment alternatives, and that alone means we have to increase awareness,” Colero said.

As the fifth most common form of cancer in Canada, Colero said bladder cancer is also the most expensive to treat on a per-patient basis.

“That’s predominantly because it requires ongoing surveillance. So once you’re diagnosed for the rest of your life, you will have to have cystoscopies and other treatment, which then means it’s the most expensive because it’s traveling to locations if you don’t live in an urban centre,” Colero said.

The issue of awareness is an ongoing challenge for Bladder Cancer Canada. Wall shared that prior to receiving her diagnosis, she was completely unfamiliar with the disease.

“I had never heard of bladder cancer before. And it is so good to talk about it. Have people be aware, if they see some red in their pee, that they should contact their doctor as soon as possible,” Wall said.

This sentiment was one of the reasons for Bladder Cancer Canada’s educational events. The organization has been travelling across the country to educate and connect those who have been impacted by the disease.

“We have two, doctors, two clinicians, talking about bladder cancer. And there’s an opportunity to connect with other people facing cancer or family members, survivors,” Gabriel Bernardes, a Saskatoon-based volunteer with Bladder Cancer Canada said.

The event was hosted at Saskatoon’s Hilton Garden Inn on Tuesday evening, and Bernardes said the event is intended to help combat the feeling of isolation that can come along with the diagnosis.

“It is important to bring awareness. Because many people who are facing it, probably they don’t have enough. They feel they are alone. They don’t have enough support,” Bernardes said.

The volunteer said early detection can be a challenge, and he was motivated to become more involved with Bladder Cancer Canada after his family was greatly impacted by the disease.

“My dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer three years ago, and then I got connected with Bladder Cancer Canada. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed quite late. And then he passed away a few months after he discovered it. And that’s why I think it’s so important, these events, to bring awareness and to know how to detect the signs and symptoms quite early. So then you can seek medical, attention quite early,” Bernardes said.

During Tuesday’s event, Wall was featured as a guest speaker, where she shared her experience in the hope of helping others.

“I didn’t know about treatments and I felt all alone. So I heard about Bladder Cancer Canada and they had support systems, and I thought, I’m going to be one of those support people. I’d love to be able to talk to people and share journey with them. And if they’ve got some questions, and I’m there to answer them as much as I could,” Wall said.

Wall added that while the initial period after receiving a diagnosis can be incredibly scary, there are a lot of options available for those who have been impacted.

“I was scared too. It’s not the end of the world. You know, there are treatments that work, and, so that is so good. It’s not like, it’s, end of story kind of thing. So it’s like there is treatments at that can be available to you,” Wall said.