Cathy downs type of cancer
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Cathy - Cancer Survivor
At the Cancer Institute at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, we witness incredible stories of courage and resilience of cancer survivors every day. Today, we share the remarkable journey of Cathy whose long battle began more than 10 years ago when she first noticed some pain in her abdomen. After consulting with primary care and GI doctors and finding no problem, the situation escalated when she noticed some bleeding. “They didn't know what kind of problem it was. Maybe it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome?,” Cathy said. “Honestly, I ignored it the first time. I didn’t want to go back to the doctors.”
When the bleeding occurred a second time, however, Cathy sought the counsel of a gynecologist who ran tests and delivered a diagnosis of scen 1 uterine adenocarcinoma – a type of cancer that develops in the glands that line internal organs.
Soon afterward, Cathy had surgery to remove the cancer and eight lymph nodes. At the time, she understood
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Listen to the podcast:
Voice over:
This is Bladder Cancer Matters, the podcast for bladder cancer patients, caregivers, advocates, and medical and research professionals. It’s brought to you by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, otherwise known as BCAN. BCAN works to increase public awareness about bladder cancer, advances bladder cancer research, and provides educational and support services for bladder cancer patients and their loved ones. To learn more, please visit bcan.org.
Rick Bangs:
Hi, I’m Rick Bangs, the host of Bladder Cancer Matters, a podcast for, by and about the bladder cancer community. I’m also a survivor of muscle invasive bladder cancer, the proud owner of a 2006 model year neobladder, and a patient advocate supporting cancer research at the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, or as many call it, BCAN, producers of this podcast.
I’m pleased to welcome today’s guest, Cathy Murphy. Cathy is originally from Greenville, South Carolin
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Living well with serious illness: Cathy’s breast cancer story
Cathy, 62, has always loved jogging and doing step aerobics, but her true passion is tending to the flowers in her garden.
“I just love being outside and getting my hands in the dirt,” says Cathy, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.
Cathy will be the first to tell you that gardening takes both patience and the willingness to början anew when a flower doesn’t grow like she’d hoped. “It’s okay when something doesn’t go your way out there. It’s all about adapting and moving forward,” says Cathy.
Cathy has had to apply those same principles to her own life as well. A diagnosis of scen IV breast cancer in 2012—the second time she had been diagnosed with this illness—halted her active and productive life. She faced an uphill climb of difficult chemotherapy regiments and an uncertain future.
After dealing with painful symptoms from the chemotherapy and the stress of managing the ups and downs of her battle for over four years,