A father who thought he had a uti was diagnosed with bladder cancer in the fourth phase and was given 24 months to live.
The father of two Chris Chris Cotton, 50, began experiencing what he believed were symptoms of UTI in October 2022-pain when he passed the urine and needed to use the toilet more often.
He drank cranberry juice and went to his doctor who prescribed antibiotics and the pain left.
But the pain returned, and after repeated trips and recipes, in January 2024 the public service worker referred to Leighton Hospital, Crewe, from his doctor, to meet the oncology team.
A CT scan and a biopsy found that he had muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
He was given a prognosis of 12 to 24 months, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy to extend his life.
Married to Chris from Sandbach, Cheshire, said: “The cancer had already spread to my pelvic lymph nodes and in a container near the bladder.
“As a result, the prognosis was very weak with the oncologist, estimating that I was approximately 12-24 months to live.
“This destructive news came as a great shock – not only for me, but also for my very strong and supportive wife Hannah, and our two wonderful young girls aged 12 and 14.
“Our world changed overnight in a world of learning new things about cancer, hospital appointments and difficult conversations with family and friends.”
Speaking about his initial symptoms Chris said: “I went to the doctors and explained what was going on, they took some urine samples and gave me some antibiotics.
“That seemed to work, she went away for a while.
“A few months later, the pain returned, I did all kinds.
“I would drink cranberry juice, thinking it would turn on everything that caused pain, but that didn’t have a lot of effect.”
During biopsy, doctors removed a 10 cm tumor from the bladder.
Chris said: “I prepared myself that it could be cancer, after the doctor left, hit me and bored for a while.
“It was really raw, but I have to accept the situation I am in, I have little control in this situation.”
On January 3, 2025, the day after his 50th birthday, Chris was given bad news.
Chris said: “The oncologist said my cancer was incurable.
“I asked him which time frame we were looking at. It’s a question no one wants to ask, and no one wants to answer.
“She said that if we admit that cancer is spreading, and other options don’t work, I would see 12 to 24 months.
“I was bored at that point, your mind starts to compete. If I have only 12 to 24 months left to live – what can I do?
“There are things I wanted to do in my life, places I wanted to see.”
In January, Chris began his six chemotherapy cycles at Christie Hospital, Manchester.
During his treatment, Chris is raising money for Cancer Care Care Keswick Jencks, who have supported Chris throughout his diagnosis.
To raise money, Chris will participate in a Tour de 4â-Sir Chris Hoy’s charity for charity ride by bicycle 56 miles to Glasgow on September 7, 2025.â
Chris said: “When I heard that Sir Chris Hoy was diagnosed with prostate cancer in Phase 4, I thought he showed that life did not end with your diagnosis.
“His approach to his diagnosis inspired me.
“Cyclism has always been a large part of my life as long as I can remember, from race to city cities as a young teenager to compete in extreme iron distance triathlons.
“It is a pastime that I have sought great comfort that has helped me mentally and physically in difficult times.”
According to the NHS, the symptoms of bladder cancer include:
– a burning sensation when passing urine
– a need to urinate on a more frequent basis
– encourages unexpected to urinate
– pelvic pain
– pain in the bone
– unintentional loss of weight
– swelling of the feet
#thought #uti #bladder #cancer #Phase
Image Source : nypost.com