Don't let bladder cancer be ignored

Celebrities such as Lance Armstrong and most recently ABC News anchor Robin Roberts have humanized the topic of cancer. But one form of the disease is often ignored. Bladder cancer is treated like an "elephant in the room," one nobody wants to talk about in public.

As a survivor of bladder cancer (one year so far), I find it inexcusable that this form of cancer takes a back seat because people are uncomfortable. It is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

To help provide an environment for survivors to meet others and ask questions, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, is sponsoring an event at the University of Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 13.

The forum is open to the public and welcomes all patients, family members and caregivers.

It is imperative that information about bladder cancer be available to the general public. This issue has been ignored for too long.

Randy Layne

Crystal Lake