In June 2009, I noticed a tinge of blood in my urine, but I quickly dismissed it because I had bigger fish to fry at the time. My husband's business had suffered financial losses, and we had just sent our daughter to a long-term treatment program across the country. I never thought it could be a bladder cancer symptom.

In August, I finally made an appointment with a local urologist, thinking I had a mild urinary tract infection...