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Kick up your boots for bladder cancer

U-M Bladder Cancer Support Group hosts awareness, fund-raising event

Ann Arbor - Celebrate hope and survivorship with the University of Michigan Bladder Cancer Support Group at their 2nd annual awareness event. "Kicking Up Your Boots for Bladder Cancer" will kick off from 4:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, July 23, at the UAW Local 898 Union Hall in Ypsilanti.

Learn about Bladder Cancer

Attendees will learn about bladder cancer and how to recognize its early symptoms, as well as risk factors and treatment options.

Admission is $35 per person, which helps fund future educational activities for the U-M Bladder Cancer Support Group. The event is open to the public. Country-western attire is encouraged. Last year's event raised nearly $11,000.

The evening includes a barbecue dinner and silent auction. Entertainment will be provided by Center Stage and The Chelsea House Orchestra.

"It is important to know about bladder cancer as it is often misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection or a kidney stone," says Staci Mitchell, N.P., a U-M nurse practitioner who sees patients with bladder cancer. "This survivorship and awareness event will allow people to learn from survivors about the extensive therapies, multiple treatments and life style changes they have been through."

Approximately 69,250 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly 14,990 will die.

However, bladder cancer is not known widely in the community. It can occur at any age and if detected and treated early it can be curable.

"We encourage people to attend this event so they can recognize signs and be proactive in requesting simple urine studies that can detect this disease," emphasizes Mitchell.

Kicking Up Your Boots for Bladder Cancer