45-Year-Old Man Misdiagnosed With UTI For Two Years, Diagnosed With Bladder Cancer

In a recent interview, according to Birmingham Live, Townsend recounted his misdiagnoses, explaining, “If the hospital’s telling me it’s an infection, then that’s what I’m going to believe. Once you’re told, ‘It’s an infection, just take these antibiotics and it will clear the infection up,’ you just think, ‘Ok, great. I’ve had infections before … it’s probably the same for everyone.’

“When they said they had to check my prostate for possible cancer I was worried, but then they came back to say that it wasn’t that, it was a urine infection. I thought, if I’ve got to take these tablets for a month and it’s going to get rid of it, then there’s no issue there.”

His symptoms first arose in August 2023. After that he was told he had a UTI at least twice and prostate exams appeared normal. When his symptoms and pain persisted, he went for a cystoscopy [a medical procedure that examines the bladder] in March 2024. However, the procedure didn’t reveal anything unusual and he was told he had inflammation of the prostate gland.

Later that month, he found blood in his urine, prompting multiple rounds of antibiotics and visits to the hospital. By April 2025, his friend urged him to get an MRI.

“I was playing golf with a friend of mine, and I said to him, look, I’m still urinating blood here and there. Some days it comes and goes. I keep going to A&E [emergency room] and they give me more antibiotics, but I’m not getting anywhere.”

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He ultimately decided to pay out-of-pocket for a private MRI, which found a significant mass in his bladder, meaning his diagnosis was “serious.” Within two weeks [in May 2025] he had a biopsy, around a time he was incredible pain and had trouble urinating.

Townsend recalled his doctor telling him that the cancer stage was “so far into the walls of my bladder that I’d probably have to lose my bladder.”

He has since undergone chemotherapy and is waiting to hear whether the cancer had spread to other areas of his body. He’s set to undergo surgery this month to have his bladder removed and will need a permanent stoma, or a colostomy bag, which is a plastic container that attaches to the front of your belly and collects waste through an opening in the abdominal wall.

RELATED: Bladder Cancer: Treatment 

Bladder cancer develops when cells that make up the urinary bladder start to grow and eventually develop into tumors. [It’s worth noting that the National Cancer Institute puts it as the sixth most common type of cancer overall in the U.S.]

Dr. Jay Shah, the cancer care program leader for urologic oncology at the Stanford Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet, “Bladder cancer is one of those cancers that you don’t hear about too often.”

Bladder cancer, which is highly treatable when found early, can often be detected early because the main first sign of the disease is hematuria, or blood appearing in your urine. This blood can change the urine’s color to orange, pink and, in some extreme cases, dark red.

Since he’s not been able to return to work, his friends have launched a GoFundMe, to help cover “living costs, rent, bills, groceries, travel to and from treatment appointments, post-surgery recovery support and basic essentials while he’s unable to work.”

The GoFundMe reads, “Our friend, teammate, and colleague Dwayne Townsend a vibrant, big hearted presence on and off the pitch—was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. Life changed overnight.

“Just two months ago, while at work, Dwayne was rushed to hospital and soon after received the heartbreaking diagnosis. He’s now undergoing chemotherapy and preparing for life-changing surgery. Despite the shock, Dwayne is meeting each day with strength, humor, and determination. But cancer brings real world pressures too. time away from work, travel to treatment, and the costs of recovery.”

As Townsend works toward recovery, he warns about the importance of annual health screenings, saying, “It should just be a standard thing, because a lot of these cancers don’t really have symptoms until it’s a problem. I’m as physically fit as anybody, before this pain started I had no indication that it was ever a problem, but it was in there somewhere.

“If people could put the cost of doing that into their annual budgets, it would probably help prevent all this stuff. But I don’t know how much it would cost to do that.”

Understanding Bladder Cancer & Treatment

Bladder cancer develops when cells that make up the urinary bladder start to grow and eventually develop into tumors. And when these cancerous tumors become muscle invasive, or spread into deeper layers of the bladder wall, the bladder may need to be removed all together along with nearby lymph nodes, other organs in the pelvis and potentially other nearby organs as well.

“For most patients who have invasive bladder cancer, the mainstay of their therapy is surgery, to remove the bladder, and the technical term for removing the bladder is radical cystectomy,” Dr. Jay Shah, the cancer care program leader for urologic oncology at the Stanford Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.

“And what it entails is removing the bladder, plus all the organs nearby, removing the lymph nodes, which is the first place that bladder cancer can spread out of the body, and then we have to do something called a urinary diversion, which is finding some way for the patient’s urine to get out of their body.”

Bladder cancer is the sixth-most common type of cancer overall in the United States, though it is the fourth-most common for men.

My Bladder Cancer Has Spread. What Are My Options?

When it comes to muscle-invasive bladder cancer, complete removal of the bladder is considered the optimal method to cure. However, for patients who cannot have surgery due to medical problems or personal preference, chemotherapy combined with radiation can be an alternative.

And although radical cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) is the standard approach for this type of bladder cancer, research shows that adding chemotherapy before you head to the operating room decreases the chance of cancer coming back and increase survival.

Treatment that is administered before surgery is called “neoadjuvant.” Pre-surgery is the ideal time to give treatment, because up to 30% of patients experience post-operative complications that would otherwise delay or entirely prevent safe delivery of chemotherapy. Different combinations and doses of treatments may be recommended based on your age, other medical conditions, and whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. The two most common regimens are MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) and GC (gemcitabine and cisplatin). These regimens are given for approximately 2-4 months between your diagnosis and surgery date. Imaging tests such as CT scans may be ordered to check your progress with chemotherapy.

Treatment for bladder cancer depends on several factors including the type of tumor, stage of disease and your general health. Your personal wishes, values and expectations also play a role in the treatment plan you and your doctor choose.

How Should My Doctor and I Make a Treatment Plan For Bladder Cancer?

Your doctor is often part of a team that will help you make decisions about treatment options. This may include surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, urologists and other health professionals. You should feel comfortable asking questions about any aspect of bladder cancer treatment before making a decision.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor After Being Diagnosed With Bladder Cancer

A new bladder cancer diagnosis can feel incredibly overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to prepare for your cancer journey by asking your doctor the right questions.

Knowing what to expect during and after treatment can help relieve stress and make a difficult experience more manageable. It also gives you time to plan and make arrangements for any care you may need.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?

“I tell all my patients that we’re gonna get to know each other really well,” says Dr. Shah.

“You need to develop a relationship with your urologist because once you have bladder cancer, you need to have someone that’s following you regularly for the rest of your life.”

Asking questions helps you learn more about your healthcare team’s experience treating bladder cancer and begin forming a relationship with them. Your doctor should be happy to answer your questions, so don’t hesitate to speak up.

Consider asking your healthcare team the following questions:

• What type of cancer do I have?
• What stage is the cancer?
• Has the cancer spread to other organs? If so, where?
• What does my prognosis look like?
• Should I see a genetic counselor for testing?
• Should any of my family members be tested?
• Will I have a better chance of success if I travel to a cancer treatment center instead of seeing a local urologist?
• Should I consider getting a second opinion?

Knowledge is power. By speaking with your doctor and finding answers to these questions, you can learn more about your bladder cancer diagnosis and make informed decisions about your treatment options.

Finding Bladder Cancer Support

Support for anyone battling bladder cancer is important during and after cancer treatment. Ask your doctor about community organizations, support groups and other resources to help you connect with others.

RELATED: Guidance for Cancer Caregivers

Consider asking your health team the following questions:

• Are there any resources available specifically for bladder cancer patients?
• Should I speak with other patients who have had the same diagnosis?
• Are there any support groups in my area?
• Are there resources for paying medical bills?
• Who should I contact for more information regarding these resources?
• How do I find out what my insurance will/won’t cover?

Remaining positive throughout your journey will help you successfully manage your symptoms and take advantage of opportunities for support.

Get the answers to all of your questions so you can start your bladder cancer journey with the peace of mind that comes from knowing what to expect.

Help with the Cost of Cancer Treatment

The GoFundMe set up for D’Wayne Townsend, has since raised at least $3,000. “Cancer treatment is incredibly expensive,” Laurie Ostacher, a Behavioral Health Clinician at Stanford Health Care, previously told SurvivorNet.

“How much coverage you have depends on your purchased insurance plan. Sometimes, when folks are younger, they might purchase a plan with a high deductible, assuming they won’t get ill. So, really, it’s helping them think about and kind of try and plan for the expenses that will be coming up. Your cancer center will often have a financial counselor to help you with that, who can sit down and go through the costs.”

WATCH: See how a social worker can help with cancer costs.

Financial toxicity is a term that has been coined to describe the problematic financial impact cancer treatment brings.

The consequences of cancer costs can extend beyond patients’ wallets. Some people feel they must cut their pills in half to extend their medications or not refill their medications for several weeks because they can’t afford it.

To begin your journey for financial assistance, start by talking to your doctor. Your cancer center can help address any concerns about the cost of your cancer drugs.

Ostacher also recommends exploring disability programs.

RELATED: Guide to Financial Planning After a Cancer Diagnosis 

“Most people are working when they’re diagnosed, and finances are a significant issue for them. So, for those who want to take some time off and can take time off, I will talk to them about the disability programs that exist,” she said.

“There’s the state disability program. Every state has a disability program. They vary from state to state. And then there’s also the federal disability program. So, I’ll help folks kind of sit down, look at their income, estimate how much money they will get, they will collect from disability, how to go about the application process,” Ostacher continued.

Other options may include taking part in paid clinical trials.

Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview that her primary role as a social worker is to advocate for patient needs in several different areas.

“It’s super important to see a social worker,” Stapleton said. “I think there’s a networking that they can assist you with, and they really have the strongest knowledge of the resources available to get you through the process … with social work, one of the primary roles is advocacy.

Clinical social worker Sarah Stapleton explains how she helps patients navigate treatment

“It’s meeting the patient and understanding the patient’s needs and understanding what it is you need in this very moment, whether that be financial resources, whether it be related to your insurance, transportation, or ultimately, the emotional process of getting through cancer treatment,” she added.

Dr. Nina Shah explains how some patients may be able to get help with cancer bills

Financial Resources to Consider During Cancer

If you have had trouble finding resources or answers about how to get help paying for cancer, there are a few routes you can consider. You can negotiate payment plans, seek out government assistance programs, or look to advocacy groups.

These are a few of the options cancer patients and their loved ones have to get help covering costs associated with treatment (from drug co-pays to travel assistance):

Covering Caregiver Costs

• Some states offer compensation to cancer caregivers. You can check with the Department of Health and Human Services for local resources.
• CancerCare offers free services to caregivers as well, and their oncology social workers may be able to connect struggling caregivers with mental health professionals, support groups, and other resources.

For Help With Treatment Bills

• The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition can direct patients and their families to available local services.
• Many treatment centers offer extended payment plans and some may offer temporary payment delays, according to the American Cancer Society.
• CancerCare, which connects patients with oncology social workers, may be able to assist with co-pays, transportation, and other costs associated with care.
• The HealthWell Foundation may be able to help uninsured patients pay for treatment.
• The American Cancer Society may be able to link patients and their families up with local resources (they offer a 24/7 helpline).
• The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) works with patients and their insurance companies to resolve issues and may provide direct financial support to some patients.
• The Patient Access Network Foundation may be able to help with out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer treatment.

For Help With Transportation and/or Housing

• There are several programs that may be able to assist patients if they need to travel by plane to get treatment, including Air Care Alliance, the Corporate Angel Network, and PALS (Patient Airlift Services).
• Patients with Medicaid may be entitled to help paying for transportation costs to and from treatment.
• The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program can hook patients and their families up with volunteer drivers.
• Mercy Medical Angels may be able to help patients and their families pay for transportation.
• The Healthcare Hospitality Network can assist with housing if a patient must be treated far from home.
• The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Program gives patients and their caregivers a free place to stay during treatment in dozens of cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

For Help With Food

• Food assistance may be available to people going through cancer treatment and their caregivers. Look into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – aka SNAP – or a program like Meals on Wheels.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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