Zoomer Radio's Jane Brown and David Guttman, co-founder of Bladder Cancer Canada, recalls how scared and alone David felt when  he got his bladder cancer diagnosis 25 years ago.

Back then, awareness about bladder cancer was very low. Patients and their loved ones faced a long and lonesome road through a difficult treatment process. Often, their only support system was the medical teams who tended to their bodily disease.

Even as he battled his own cancer, David wanted to help other Canadians who were similarly impacted, by introducing that missing key element – moral support. With help from likeminded people, he established Bladder Cancer Canada in 2009 to provide patient support and shine a light on various bladder cancer issues.

Today, at 80, he recounts his long journey and what drove him to become one of Canada’s strongest advocates for bladder cancer awareness.

Bladder Cancer Canada supports the 80,000 Canadians currently living with a bladder cancer diagnosis, and also the 12,000 Canadians that will be diagnosed this year. We provide patient support through online discussion forums, virtual support groups and a one on one peer support program. We also increase awareness of this disease that can be deadly if not diagnosed early, and fund research to help improve the quality of care and treatments to Canadians. For more information, visit our website at www.bladdercancercanada.org.