David's bladder cancer diagnosis
In 1981, Wayne Bush’s son, David, was not even a year old when Wayne started noticing blood in his urine. Wayne and his wife, Cathy, took David to see a doctor. After several tests, David was diagnosed with a rare type of bladder cancer.
“Learning our son had cancer was very hard and shocking,” says Wayne. “I had to be the one to tell my wife. I didn’t want to break the news to her because David was our first and only child. It’s not the news any parent wants to hear.”
David began treatment in Toronto less than a week after his diagnosis and would have to have chemotherapy for a year. Because they did not live in Toronto, getting to the hospital became challenging for the family.
Finding support through Wheels of Hope
Needing support, the family turned to the Canadian Cancer Society. They registered with Wheels of Hope, a service that provides transportation for people who need to get to their cancer treatment.
More than 35 years later, David is cancer-free. Grateful for the support the family received, Wayne decided to become a volunteer driver for Wheels of Hope. For more than 5 years, he’s made sure to provide support for families going through similar experiences as his.
Our experience with Wheels of Hope is what made me want to become a driver. I know what it feels like to need help with transportation and by driving other families I hope to share my story and motivate patients. I feel like I’m helping to improve their day and that’s the greatest feeling.
Help change the lives of people affected by bladder cancer
May marks Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. In 2025, an estimated 12,600 people in Canada were diagnosed with bladder cancer. According to an article developed by CCS, Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, death rates for bladder cancer are now decreasing among both sexes and are expected to be 24% lower for males and 17% lower for females compared to a decade ago.
While this is great progress, you can help change the lives of more people affected by bladder cancer. By funding research progress, you’re helping us increase cancer survival, stop cancer before it starts, and offer support to people with cancer and their loved ones.
Help change the lives of people like Wayne and his family
Help create a future without cancer
With support from readers like you, we can continue to make a meaningful impact for people affected by cancer.
We are determined to increase survival, stop cancer before it starts, and improve lives. But we can’t do it without you.
If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund the most promising research, compassionate support and transformative advocacy. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.