Know the Facts. Hear the Stories. Get Support.

Herrie

In August of 2025, my wife and I were training for the famous West Coast Trail hike. We live in the mountains and had just hiked 10 km with packs when it was time for a pee. As I was peeing, my brain kicked into gear. “Huh…that’s not normal. My stream is dark brown/red. That’s not good.”

I went to my local emergency clinic later that morning and during the long wait I of course went down the Google rabbit hole… Kidney stones were a likely culprit, according to a list of possibilities. I then captured a tiny, tiny stone with a medical sieve during my next pee. I thought I had self-diagnosed the issue – I was so wrong.

A CT scan a week later was inconclusive on kidney stones, but there was something on my bladder. My GP said that many men over the age of 60 have something called “bladder pockets”. It’s likely nothing serious, but an ultrasound was ordered for confirmation.

The ultrasound picked up two small growths on my bladder. Two weeks later I was scheduled with a local urologist for a scope, also known as a cystoscopy. Two weeks after that, I had surgery (TURBT) to successfully remove the two tumours, followed by an additional procedure, then six-week induction course of BCG immunotherapy.

The last few months have been a roller coaster of emotions. That said, in the big picture I’m optimistic and the odds are in my favour that I’ll be able to beat this beast.. And I completed the West Coast Trail even with bladder cancer.

Bottom line…If you see red in your urine, take it very seriously and seek out the proper medical advice.

Jessica

At 42, I woke up seeing blood and my entire life changed. What I thought were kidney stones turned out to be Stage 4 Metastatic Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: bladder cancer.

Overnight, my life shifted into a whirlwind of tests, surgeries, and tough decisions. Over the next few years, I had my left kidney removed, and what looked like a small spot on my lung was confirmed to be another tumour. I went through chemotherapy and had part of my lung removed. When the cancer returned, my second round of chemo failed, and I was told I might not have much time left…

We turned to immunotherapy, which offered new hope, but complications forced me to make the life‑changing decision to remove my entire left lung. That surgery changed everything. Since then, I’ve been living disease‑free (for a full year now!) and I focus on embracing every day fully.

Bladder cancer is incredibly complex and costly to treat, and I’m grateful for my remarkable care teams: my urologist, oncologist, two thoracic surgeons, countless nurses and support staff. I also had my family, friends, and the support that I received from Bladder Cancer Canada. BCC’s information sessions and community made all the difference. Staying positive and looking ahead has been one of the greatest tools in my healing.

If you’re facing this journey, please know: you’re not alone, and there is hope.

Melinda

I was at work the first time I “saw red.” Up until that moment, I felt completely healthy—I’d even had a physical just a few months prior that turned up nothing unusual. When the blood appeared, I did what many women my age do: I looked for the simplest explanation. I assumed it was a UTI or perhaps kidney stones. I also brushed off my increased urinary urgency and frequency as just a normal part of aging or perimenopause. Looking back, hindsight is 20/20, but at the time, I didn’t know these were warning signs.

Just weeks before my 55th birthday, the “simple” explanation was replaced by a life-altering reality: I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The shock was overwhelming, but it led me to the Bladder Cancer Canada website, which became my lifeline.

Through their support groups, I found a community that helped me navigate the complex road ahead. My journey included a Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) and ultimately a radical cystectomy. Transitioning to life with an ileal conduit (urostomy) was a significant adjustment, but the peer support I received made me realize I wasn’t alone in this “new normal”.

I am sharing my story to spread one critical message: blood in your urine is never “normal.” Don’t dismiss urinary changes as just part of getting older. By raising awareness, I hope to help someone else catch this disease early. Today, I am moving forward, grateful for the support that helped me find my way back to living fully.

Steven

My cancer journey began on the first day of a long-awaited holiday. I was shocked to see my urine was a deep bloody red. I rushed back to the city to find answers. What followed was a year and a half of worsening health, and visits to three different urologists before I finally received the diagnosis: Non-Muscle Invasive T1 Papillary High-Grade Bladder Cancer.

If you see blood in your urine, go to your primary care physician or a walk-in clinic immediately.

At first – denial! One day I believed it would be easily treated; the next, I was writing a will.

I was fortunate to find a top surgeon at a renowned cancer center. TURBTs revealed multiple microscopic tumors. My doctor urged me to consider a Radical Cystectomy with a Neo-Bladder diversion, rather than chemo or intravesical treatments, which carried a high risk of recurrence in my case. My desire to remove the cancer far outweighed my attachment to my bladder and it was the right decision for me. Post-surgical pathology revealed 8 cm tumors close to breaking through the muscle layer.

Post-surgery recovery was difficult for me. For six months I battled repeated, serious UTIs that required hospitalization including nearly fatal sepsis. An effective treatment regimen was finally found and I have now been cancer- and infection-free for nearly two years.

I am deeply grateful to my medical team and especially to my wife, who stopped working to be a full-time caregiver.

Second pro tip: Arrange support—You should not face this alone.

Recovery required patience, resilience, and acceptance of lasting changes. Bladder cancer took much from me, but it also sharpened my gratitude for life itself.

Bladder cancer is life-altering—but with awareness, care, and support, there is life after seeing red.

Find support in friends, family, and the community at Bladder Cancer Canada.