Bladder cancer

Husband diagnosed with bladder cancer 2 years ago. He had chemo which shrunk  tumor but he had a stroke so all treatment was  on hold. Thankfully after 6 months he was able to continue with his treatment and we led a fairly normal life.

We moved to an apartment to be near son & grandkids in Essex from North Yorkshire so it was very stressful but nice to be here. Husbands health seemed to improve but he had a fall and treatment for cancer on hold again.

Family are close but with work & kids, we still don't have the support we would have liked & rest of family are now too far away. We 're both in our 70's. I look after him & cancer is getting worse. We have so many appointments for scans & assessments, we're not sure what's going on. Told he needed to have bladder removed, then a phone call to say he wasn't as bad as they thought so no operation needed. We now have 2 appointments for assessments but not sure what is going on! Try calling the hospital but impossible to speak to anyone. Left messages fo callback-still waiting. We're both so stressed. If we knew the plan we could deal with it. Next appointment 2 August at the hospital  so hope we get answers then. 

  • Hi Annie and thank you for your post. 

    Thank you for your enquiry. I'm sorry to read about your situation. It sounds like you are going through a lot.

    It maybe that you will have to wait for his appointment before you can find out what scans and treatment he will need.

    You could speak to your husband’s specialist nurse who may be able to give you more guidance on what the next steps might be.

    If you feel there is a communication problem you may be able to speak to the hospital's Patient Advisory Liaison Service  (PALS) who maybe able to help.

    Treatment for bladder cancer depends on many factors; such as what type of bladder cancer, stage and grade it is, but there are ways in which you can prepare yourself for cancer treatment. 

    I do understand that caring for a relative with an illness can be very isolating.

    It is very important to remember to take care of yourself when you are caring for someone else.  Consider seeking counselling, as talking to someone may be beneficial for you.

    Your GP maybe able to help and provide more support for you and your husband.

    Your husband may be eligible for the Attendance Allowance .  Attendance Allowance is extra money if you have a long-term physical, mental condition or disability. As you've reached State Pension age, and feel you require extra help and support, you may be eligible.   What counts is how his  condition impacts him, not the nature of the ailment. There are no restrictions on what you spend the allowance on.

    You can apply online, but it's best to seek advice from an organisation such as AGE UK  here who can help you fill out the form. Something as simple as the wording of your reply can affect your eligibility.

    You also maybe eligible for Carer's Allowance.

    You may also be eligible for hospital transport who can pick you up and return you home after appointments.  If you or your husband drive,  he may be eligible to apply for a.blue badge.

    Macmillan can also give you advice on any other benefits and support you maybe entitled to.  Maggie's give support to family and friends and  you do  not need to live near one  to be able to access their help.

    I can appreciate there is a lot of uncertainty for you both but I hope you know more after your appointment.

    Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Kind regards,

    Tina

  • Thank you so much for your reply.

    Best wishes