MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Motoring
  • Video
Subscribe
This Chewbacca Workout Will Make You Strong Like A Wookie
Watch 4:19

This Chewbacca Workout Will Make You Strong Like A Wookie

{headline}

{headline}

How This Guy Transformed His Six Pack In Six Weeks

How This Guy Transformed His Six Pack In Six Weeks

A Beginner's Guide To Becoming A Bodybuilder

A Beginner's Guide To Becoming A Bodybuilder

Former AFL Star Darren Jolly Shares Major Body Transformation

Former AFL Star Darren Jolly Shares Major Body Transformation

Everything You Need To Know About Testosterone

Everything You Need To Know About Testosterone

{headline}

{headline}

Dolph Lundgren Gave Up Meat - Now He Reckons His Sex Life Is Better Than Ever

Dolph Lundgren Gave Up Meat - Now He Reckons His Sex Life Is Better Than Ever

The Science Behind Why Your Penis Is A Different Colour To The Rest Of Your Body

The Science Behind Why Your Penis Is A Different Colour To The Rest Of Your Body

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Day

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Day

{headline}

{headline}

Josh Brolin Tried The 'Butt Sunning' Wellness Trend

Josh Brolin Tried The 'Butt Sunning' Wellness Trend

Why Dopamine Fasting Is Taking Over The Wellness World

Why Dopamine Fasting Is Taking Over The Wellness World

How To Beat Jet Lag

How To Beat Jet Lag

Eddie Hall Nearly Bled To Death After Dropping Weights On His Penis

Eddie Hall Nearly Bled To Death After Dropping Weights On His Penis

Jacked Animal Chris Hemsworth Works Out In The "World's Smallest Gym"

Jacked Animal Chris Hemsworth Works Out In The "World's Smallest Gym"

World's First Male Contraceptive Injection Just Six Months Away

World's First Male Contraceptive Injection Just Six Months Away

Sydney's Air Quality Is Once Again Officially "Hazardous"

Sydney's Air Quality Is Once Again Officially "Hazardous"

  1. Home
  2. Health

What You Need To Know About Bladder Cancer

From someone who is living with it - by Lauren Williamson
  • 21 May 2019
What You Need To Know About Bladder Cancer

Compared to cancers of the lung, breast and prostate, bladder cancer gets relatively low billing when it comes public awareness. But the disease affects around 3000 Australians each year, with more than 1000 people dying from it. While the survival for most other cancers has improved in Australia, for bladder cancer this has decreased over time.

A scary thought, and one that West Australian photographer Steve Ferrier is grappling with after being diagnosed with the disease in July 2018. 

"There was an amount of fear, you read the booklets look at the five year survival rates," he told Men's Health. "Then you look at the factors you have working for you. They discovered it early, before any symptoms and that gave me some confidence."

Another relative positive in Steve's situation is that he's able to take part in a new treatment trial using immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. 

"I was asked if I would be interested in taking part in the study by my specialist," he explains. "All it involves is filling out quality of life surveys. The big plus side, especially when you are in the public system, is you have an excellent point of contact in the clinical research nurse. My GP and I have a direct number to her, if there are any questions regard treatment, symptoms or other complications."

bladder cancer
Supplied

Bladder cancer predominantly affects men over 60, but other risk factors include workplace exposure to certain chemicals, diabetes, family history and smoking.

"I was a heavy smoker for many years," Steve says. "I gave up cigarettes over 2 years ago, but it still got me. If you have any of the symptoms of bladder cancer, don’t delay in getting it checked out. The earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome."

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Other less common symptoms include:

  • problems emptying the bladder
  • a burning feeling when passing urine
  • need to pass urine often
  • blood in urine
  • lower abdominal or back pain

"I’m quietly confident that I will come through it all," Steve says. "There is definitely depression and stress which goes hand in hand with all cancer. It feels like last July when I was diagnosed, I took in a deep breath and held it, nearly 12 months later I’m still holding it. Hopefully in 6 months I’ll get to breathe out again."

If you'd like more information about Urogenital and Prostate Cancer cancer trials head to ANZUP.org.au.

Lauren Williamson
Lauren Williamson
Lauren Williamson is the Digital Content Manager for Women's Health and Men's Health. She's an experienced journalist, editor and social media fiend who's well versed in reporting on everything from food trends to fitness, health news to haircare. She has a double degree in Journalism and Political Science.

FREE Thermos Bottle - SAVE 40%

When you subscribe to Men's Health.

Subscribe Now
FREE Thermos Bottle

FREE Thermos Bottle - SAVE 40%

When you subscribe to Men's Health.

Subscribe Now
FREE Thermos Bottle

Recommended to you

This Chewbacca Workout Will Make You Strong Like A Wookie
Watch 4:19

This Chewbacca Workout Will Make You Strong Like A Wookie

{headline}

{headline}

How This Guy Transformed His Six Pack In Six Weeks

How This Guy Transformed His Six Pack In Six Weeks

A Beginner's Guide To Becoming A Bodybuilder

A Beginner's Guide To Becoming A Bodybuilder

Former AFL Star Darren Jolly Shares Major Body Transformation

Former AFL Star Darren Jolly Shares Major Body Transformation

Everything You Need To Know About Testosterone

Everything You Need To Know About Testosterone

{headline}

{headline}

Dolph Lundgren Gave Up Meat - Now He Reckons His Sex Life Is Better Than Ever

Dolph Lundgren Gave Up Meat - Now He Reckons His Sex Life Is Better Than Ever

The Science Behind Why Your Penis Is A Different Colour To The Rest Of Your Body

The Science Behind Why Your Penis Is A Different Colour To The Rest Of Your Body

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Day

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Day

{headline}

{headline}

Josh Brolin Tried The 'Butt Sunning' Wellness Trend

Josh Brolin Tried The 'Butt Sunning' Wellness Trend

Why Dopamine Fasting Is Taking Over The Wellness World

Why Dopamine Fasting Is Taking Over The Wellness World

How To Beat Jet Lag

How To Beat Jet Lag

Eddie Hall Nearly Bled To Death After Dropping Weights On His Penis

Eddie Hall Nearly Bled To Death After Dropping Weights On His Penis

Jacked Animal Chris Hemsworth Works Out In The "World's Smallest Gym"

Jacked Animal Chris Hemsworth Works Out In The "World's Smallest Gym"

World's First Male Contraceptive Injection Just Six Months Away

World's First Male Contraceptive Injection Just Six Months Away

Sydney's Air Quality Is Once Again Officially "Hazardous"

Sydney's Air Quality Is Once Again Officially "Hazardous"

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
MensHealth Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health
  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

FREE Thermos Bottle - SAVE 40%

Shop This Offer
FREE Thermos Bottle