Stress Free Fight with Cancer

I was diagnosed with bladder cancer by a young, very uncompassionate urologist 9 years ago. While alone and still on the exam table, he discussed bladder removal, literally blaming me that my smoking caused the cancer. I left the office scared, alone and in a trance, knowing I would never return.

I was referred by a friend to Dr. Gregory Lovallo and got my appointment quickly. On my first visit, scared and shaking, Dr. Lovallo immediately took my hand and after looking at my tests, said, “You are not going to die from this, but you and I will be seeing a lot of each other for many years!”. I then had a very minor surgery, a transurethral resection, which was basically a scraping of the inside of my bladder. I was very fortunate because the cancer had not spread outside of my bladder. I continued to have cystoscopies and urine FISH tests every three months, then 6 months, then yearly as time passed.

Since Dr. Lovallo admits to having “MD OCD”, any time he saw a speck inside of my bladder, he would remove it! As he claims, bladder cancer is like weeds, it can grow back. However, I have so much confidence in him, I KNOW that he will “attack” any little thing he sees in my bladder before it has a chance to grow back! Both Dr. Lovallo and his assistant, Josephine, ALWAYS make me relax, they treat me like family, not just a patient. Every visit, I am anxious, expecting bad news, but the minute I see their faces, I know that whatever news is coming, Dr. Lovallo will give it to me gently, with compassion and even his own brand of humor! I highly recommend New Jersey Urology and especially Dr. Lovallo and feel that no one could take better care of me!!!

– Maryann Skaflestad