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 healthy patients were leading up to the surgery
• How the first six weeks after the surgery can be very difficult for patients
• That some patients experience a drop off in sexual function, both men and women
• What other factors of quality of life Dr. Bochner's patient survey addressed
• How bladder removal surgery can impact patients' physical and mental health

Click here to listen to Part 1 of Rick's conversation with Dr. Bochner.

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.

Rick and Karen talk about:

• Her bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment
• Caring for her husband when he got bladder cancer
• How her late husband benefited from BCAN's programs and services
• Why she participates in the Walks to End Bladder Cancer and thinks that others should too
• How to get involved with BCAN

Never miss an episode of Bladder Cancer Matters by searching for it on your favorite podcasting platform and clicking the "subscribe" button.

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 bladder cancer doctor, and Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn, an infectious disease doctor at Emory Healthcare, tackle these questions and more with "Bladder Cancer Matters" host Rick Bangs.

They also discuss:

• What is happening with COVID now in the U.S.
• The safety data available for mRNA vaccines
• The low risk of vaccination for bladder cancer patients
• Risks of getting COVID in a medical facility
• Why delaying bladder cancer treatment because of COVID concerns is not advisable
• Timing of COVID vaccination with bladder cancer treatment

In Part 1 of two part Episode 24 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs interviews Dr. Bernard Bochner.

Rick and Dr. Bochner discuss the findings of a quality of life survey conducted with more than 400 patients who underwent a radical cystectomy. Dr. Bochner and his team studied the importance of selecting the best urinary diversion for each patient and measures of his or her urinary and bowel function, sexual function and mental and emotional health.

Part 2 of their conversation will be published soon.

In Episode 23 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Stella Koutros and Molly Jacobs about how environmental exposure to chemicals is linked to bladder cancer. Stella Koutros, Ph.D., M.P.H. is an Investigator in the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the National Cancer Institute and Molly Jacobs, M.P.H. is a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production and UMass Lowell.

Rick, Stella and Molly discuss how evidence supports a correlation between rates of bladder cancer and exposure to environmental chemicals. They also cover:

• Occupational exposures are a leading risk factor for bladder cancer, second only to smoking
• How certain jobs pose a greater risk of developing bladder cancer based upon the materials you touch or inhale
• What people can do if they find themselves at risk for environmental exposure to carcinogens

In Episode 22 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Drs. Phil Abbosh and Max Kates about bladder cancer biomarkers. Dr. Abbosh is a urologic oncologist at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Kates is an assistant professor of urology and oncology with the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Rick and Drs. Abbosh and Kates talk about what biomarkers are and how they are relevant to bladder cancer. A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition like bladder cancer.

Click here to read the transcript.

In Episode 21 of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Kimberly Papay Rogers, PhD, the Director of Research at the Cancer Support Community. Rick and Dr. Rogers discuss her work on the Cancer Experience Registry, an online research survey that helps enhance cancer care, improve health care policies, and ensure support services better reflect the needs of people affected by cancer.

They also discuss:

• What a cancer registry is
• Why bladder cancer was added to the registry
• Who can and should participate in the bladder cancer patient survey
• The findings' expected impact on bladder cancer treatment and experiences

In this special 2022 World Cancer Day episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, BCAN's Director of Communications and Marketing talks with Alex Filicevas, the executive director of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC).

Mark and Alex talk about how bladder cancer is a global health issue and the role that the WBCPC takes in helping to build infrastructure to help countries support patients and caregivers.

In this episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Dr. Robert Svatek about how bladder cancer patients can navigate the ongoing BCG shortage. Rick and Dr. Svatek discuss:

• What BCG is and how it is used
• What the different strains are
• Why there is a BCG shortage
• What to do if your urologist doesn't have BCG
• Alternatives to BCG
• The trial Dr. Svatek is doing about the Japanese strain
• The future of BCG treatments

Never miss an episode of Bladder Cancer Matters by subscribing in your favorite podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

In this special episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, BCAN associate Joslyn Brown has a frank and uplifting conversation with Vicki S., who declares herself to be the "luckiest ileal conduit person in the world." Joslyn and Vicki talk about:

• The symptoms that Vicki had well before her bladder removal surgery
• How relieved she was to have her bladder taken out
• What her recovery was like
• How happy she is to be alive and doing well after her surgery

We also encourage you to visit our web site for additional information about bladder removal surgery (radical cystectomy) as well as life with a urinary diversion.

• What is a radical cystectomy?
• Understanding Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancerhttps://bcan.org/understanding-bladder-cancer-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer-mibc/ (webinar)
• The Psychosocial Aspect of Bladder Removal Surgery (webinar)