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| It’s a fact - smoking causes bladder cancer |
| Written by Communications Team |
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Can you imagine what it is like to never feel the urgency to “spend a penny” again? Bladder cancer does away with that sensation because, to have a chance of surviving the disease, the bladder has to be removed. From that operation onwards life will never be the same again.
Mary knows what it is like to be continually passing urine – day and night – into a bag. And she wants others to know three things:
As a young machinist Mary had only smoked socially. Marriage and three sons and two daughters kept her smoking to a minimum and when she returned to work as a telephonist and receptionist her smoking opportunities were limited. But, it was enough to set up a “time bomb” for later in life.
Said Mary: “Years ago we had no idea of the damage smoking could do to our bodies. Nowadays people have all the information about the dangers and yet the young people carry on smoking as if they will never be affected. If they give up now, the risk decreases.
“When I was 48 years-old and I went to my GP because I felt as though my innards were dropping out of me. I had no other symptoms and no idea that I might have cancer.”
A consultant gave Mary the life-changing diagnosis. A course of radiotherapy treatment at Mount Vernon Hospital followed by regular flexible cystoscopy examinations under anaesthetic kept her in the clear for 10 years until the cancer returned.
Her care then came under Consultant Urologist Mr Ravi Kulkarni and Mary received a course of injections directly into the bladder, and once again she responded well and was able to continue working and enjoying a normal life. But the day came when Mr Kulkarni had to tell her that the cancer could no longer be kept at bay.
Said Mary: “I had no symptoms whatsoever to indicate that it had come back! It was a terrible shock. I didn’t want a bag - no one wants a bag! You feel devastated, it’s as though it’s not really happening to you.”
In July 2009 it will be five years since her bladder was removed. Despite pre-operative preparation coming round in the intensive care unit after major surgery to face the reality of continually passing urine through a urostomy-forming stoma site on your stomach and into a bag is a distressing shock.
She said: “The first two years were most difficult and my weight dropped to 5 stone, but I finally began to gain weight. I’ve had tremendous support and encouragement from my family and I’m getting on with life.”
Last year she painted all the windows on the outside of their home, and decorated inside. She makes regular trips with her husband to see one of her daughters and grand-daughter in America. And in November Mary and her husband went on safari to Kenya where Mary found that not having the conventional problems for a woman of finding somewhere to spend a penny turned out to be an advantage!
Said Mary: “I went on safari with my bag! I feel as though I can go anywhere and eat what I like and do what I like. I hope my story will encourage other people facing a cystectomy operation to remove their bladder to know that they can pick up again afterwards and get on with their lives.
“But, of course, I would say to anyone who smokes: “Give it up!” It’s silly to smoke and it’s not worth it.””
Mary has a special message for girls and young women: “Don’t run the risk! There’s nothing cool or glamorous about a bag full of urine, and in 20 years time that is what you could be facing, all day, every day.”
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 March 2009 10:17 ) |
