Home Forums All Categories Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Me and Rosebud – back to work

  • Me and Rosebud – back to work

    Posted by Melodie on March 1, 2008 at 4:39 am

    Hi all,

    Since I started back to work I haven’t had much chance to review what is happening here on the forum. I am getting used to rising early and getting myself off to work…each morning I say, “OK, Rosebud, it’s you and I, let’s go!” So far, my beloved stoma has not let me down. She and the bladder have behaved very well and I have had no problems. I am very careful to empty when the signal is given and always hit the restroom before commuting home.

    Since I have the Indy Pouch, I am thinking of what fun it will be when some of the gals where I work, who don’t know me, walk in and see my feet under the stall, pointing towards the toilet and hear what will sound to them like a man urinating….I think maybe I should lower my voice and maybe wear some men’s cologne and really keep them guessing. I can have fun with this idea.

    Anyway, the highlight of my week turned out to be meeing up with Rick here on the forum…we discovered months ago that we work for the same company so had planned on meeting for coffee when I got back to work. It was great to meet another BC warrior in person. He looked and sounded great and I so enjoyed talking wit him. We talked about the pros and cons of each of our diversions,etc. We both have adapted very well to what we have and are happy with our choice. We have both agreed to help educate others in regard to the diversion we have…and I have a male friend who works nearby who has the neobladder so no matter who we talk with, if they have questions about a diversion, there is someone here we can refer them to help answer questions.

    My best to all. Take care. Melodie :)


    Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright
    Melodie replied 16 years, 8 months ago 8 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • melodie

    Member
    March 6, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    I would say water does have much influence; doctor I saw said that BC is very high in Egypt due to bad water supply; parasite in the water; and I know of that some people have gotten cancer from too high a level of arsenic in their well water. For the past several years, I have not consumed any of the water out of the fountains or faucets where I work but have gotten bottled water…and of course some of those are a scam also…what is a person to do? Melodie


    Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright
  • julie

    Member
    March 6, 2008 at 3:19 am

    Each generation now is being exposed to more carcinogens. It is probably all the factors combined and a persons vulnerability to carcinogens that makes a difference. Also a biproduct of chlorination of water is also implicated in bladder cancer. This is why we now filter all the water we use to cook and drink. Some people will filter all the household water so they won’t bathe in chlorinated water.
    Julie


    Volunteer Coordinator
    ABLSC
  • Guest
    March 6, 2008 at 2:52 am

    Yes, what does it??? My husband smoked, but to my surprise I read of all these members who never had one cigarette in there life, and are workout fanatics who eat well. So why them?? Then of course there the ones who never smoked and die from lung cancer!!! Its a phenomenen!! I think the immune system does a turn around resulting in the disease, why, who knows!! It would be nice to have an answer.
    Ginger

  • Guest
    March 6, 2008 at 1:56 am

    Yep my grandparents smoked…they died of old age…My parents smoked…no cancer there……….still not buying it……….Pat

  • melodie

    Member
    March 5, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    OK, I too have never smoked my first cigarette, or anything else for that matter, nor have I worked with chemicals. My spouse has smoked for years but I don’t want to blame him for my bout with cancer. I did grow up with my mother who smoked which was very common during the 50’s and 60’s. I wonder if something happens and it stays dormant in the body for years until something wakes it up…kinda like the Herpes Zoster…you have chicken pox as a kid, the virus remains in the body in a dormant state until something triggers it and it is then called Shingles. I got a bad case of Shingles 10 years back. Melodie


    Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright
  • Dale50

    Member
    March 5, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    Pat,

    M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston has created such a report as you describe and when I was diagnosed at Baylor College of Medicine I participated in the study. The leading cause of Bladder cancer according to the study and my Doctor Seth Lerner is smoking, the second cause and the group I fall into because of my work history is exposure to chemicals. The first question my doctors always ask me was how long have you smoked since I am only 50 and the majority of Bladder cases are men over 60 and my answer is I have never smoked 1 cigarette. But then they get into the fact that my parents smoked in our home and in the car with me which gave me exposure along with working in chemical plants. The survey included foods I eat and the way we cook them and in all took a full day to complete.

    Just a little Houston input!

    Dale

  • Justme

    Member
    March 5, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    Melonie and Rick great that you had a great visit. It’s always great to meet people face to face. Ginger and I talked on the phone thanks to Ginger for reaching out, somday maybe more of us will meet.

    I agree Rick I’ve had more people ask “Well, what causes this type of cancer” Maybe we need to put together a questioner and present the answers to the researchers.

    hugs to all
    just me pat

  • Guest
    March 5, 2008 at 2:57 am

    Melodie, So nice to hear you met up with Rick, and the work thing is going well, good for you, back to living again… very happy for you!!!Ginger

  • Guest
    March 3, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Isn’t that the truth Rick….the same questions about smoking and chemicals are asked no matter what cancer you have……maybe we can come with some common links?
    They obviously need help!!…….Pat

  • rah

    Member
    March 3, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    It was great to see a Cafe member in the flesh.
    I thoroughly enjoyed our chat.
    I look forward to more coffee breaks in the workplace.

    I shared with Melodie that it is interesting that there are no lifestyle questionnaires to complete when you get bladder cancer. How are they to know what causes the cancer (besides smoking and exposure to chemicals) if they don’t gather data from the people who have the cancer.

    Rick

    PS. Melodie was so kind, She said I looked younger in person then I did in my picture.

  • leigh

    Member
    March 3, 2008 at 11:41 am

    Hello Melodie,

    Great to hear that your return to work is going well..

    Take care..

    Leigh


    Leigh, 39
    Dx July 2007
    TURBT July 2007
    RC/Neobladder ,Studer Pouch, September 2007
    Erasmus Centrum Rotterdam
    TNM Classification: pT4 N2 Mo
    4 cycles aduvant chemo Gemzar & Cisplatinum
  • melodie

    Member
    March 2, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    Pat,

    Rick works where I do, but the other guy works for another company across the highway from where we are. Rick and I were talking the other day about “why” and neither of us have smoked or ever worked with chemicals or around them. I have lost count of our work population where I am but it has to be somewhere between 16,000 and 27,000; in a place that large, we have to have some other BC warriors there but we just don’t know who they are.

    When I returned to the company and had to complete a form where they ask the question, was your medical condition work related? I put a question mark and wrote, “who knows with cancer?”….both Rick and I work in administrative areas so although we travel through a factory environment, most of our time is in an office.

    Melodie

    Maria,

    Thanks for your good thoughts…I do have to watch myself; ensuring I get plenty of liquids and take breaks from the PC and then get enough rest in the evenings.

    Melodie


    Melodie, Indy Pouch, U.W.Medical Center, Seattle, Dr. Paul H. Lange & Jonathan L. Wright
  • maria

    Member
    March 2, 2008 at 4:15 am

    Melodie you seem to be doing great, I am so proud of you my friend, remember to take it easy, rest up and have a great weekend.
    Maria xx

  • Guest
    March 1, 2008 at 5:23 am

    ummmmmmm Melodie…3 people in your work place have blc?….OK now thats worrisome!
    Pat

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