Local Hospital Hosts Walk For Bladder Cancer

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Jefferson University Hospital is hosting a National Walk for Bladder Cancer Saturday. The walk kicks off at 10 a.m. at 10th and Locust Streets and it's one of many events taking place in 30 states about a disease that gets little attention.

DocTor Jeanie Hoffman-Centsis, an assistant professor in the Medical Onocology Department, says she organized the local team after taking part in other walks nearby.

The national event is organized by BCAN, the Bladder Cancer Awareness Network.

"This actually started by Diane and John Qualli, when John was diagnosed with bladder cancer and they were looking for resources and help on the Internet and found nothing! So they started this organization on their own and it's grown larger and larger each year," Hoffman-Centsis said as she explained how the group originated.

She says 70,000 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer last year and 15,000 died from the disease.
Hoffman-Centsis says early diagnosis is key, and the most common first symptom is blood in the urine.

For more information visit: www.BCAN.org