Gail Cartmail, a bladder cancer patient diagnosed in 2020, has written to reassure those facing life-changing bladder surgery. In a letter to the editor, she acknowledges that reports of new treatments may not ease immediate concerns for patients about to undergo surgery.
Cartmail describes practical adjustments after bladder removal, including the need to plan around limited public toilets due to reduced bladder capacity. She advises carrying a spare kit and following stoma nurse guidance to avoid leaks, and recommends the Urostomy Association for information.
Despite challenges, Cartmail says she enjoys outdoor swimming and walking year-round, and finds venues helpful in providing accessible seating. She emphasises the benefits of openness with colleagues, friends, and strangers, noting that wearing a bladder externally requires adjustments but is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Her message to those facing surgery is one of hope: life-changing but manageable, and crucially life-saving.
