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Alvin Rollin
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Bladder Cancer
Al Rollin at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairview Village, Pa.
"Learning you have cancer is a very sobering moment. It was exactly that for me. I felt like my life was over," said Alvin Rollin when he recounted the doctor visit when he heard he had bladder cancer.
Al's next step was to call his doctor, who recommended three cancer specialists. "By the time I was able to see the first doctor, my mind had been through many scenarios, most of them bad," Al recalled.
Keeping the Faith
Before his diagnosis, Al had always been a religious man, involved in many of his church's activities. He thought, "This should not be happening to me. I was in the middle of an expansion project at my church. My faith wavered, but I continued to pray. During my first meeting with Dr. Robert Uzzo at Fox Chase, I knew that he was the one for me."
From From Dr. Uzzo's quiet and competent demeanor to his compassion and confidence, Al felt that he could put his life in Dr. Uzzo's hands. He thought Dr. Uzzo was the answer to his prayers. During the surgery, Dr. Uzzo not only removed his bladder, but he reconstructed a new one (a neobladder), so that Al could urinate normally and would not have to wear a bag.
"I cannot say enough about the caring and compassionate staff at Fox Chase. This includes the nurses and nurse practitioners, administration, orderlies, support staff and volunteers. Everyone I met seemed to understand the turmoil I was experiencing. They did whatever they needed to keep the stress level from becoming overwhelming," said Al.
Back to Business
Since his surgery, Al has successfully supervised two additional construction projects at his church's facility. "At the present time, we are planning yet another expansion," Al explained.
As of this interview, Al has been cancer-free for four years, five months and twenty-three days, but who is counting? Al is. "I owe it all to the skill of Dr. Robert Uzzo, his nurses and the entire Fox Chase staff," concluded Alvin.
Learn more about bladder cancer treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center.