“Fox Chase runs like a well-oiled machine, which made all the difference when I was at one of the most vulnerable points in my life.”‐James Hess
I’m the person who never got sick a day in his life. I’d worked for 47 years running my business and had never missed a day of work. I didn’t really have a relationship with doctors, but that all changed for me on March 15, 2015, when I noticed blood in my urine.
I went to my family doctor the next day, but the test didn’t show any blood. Still, he said he had a bad feeling and referred me to a urologist in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, which is near my home.
Within a few days, the urologist performed a cystoscopy, an endoscopic procedure that allows physicians to examine the lining of the bladder, and he found a tumor. That was the start of my bladder cancer journey. A close friend who had battled cancer told me that if I ever faced something serious, Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is about an hour and a half from my home, was the only place to go. I took that advice and I’m so glad I did.
Finding the Right Care
My urologist knew Dr. Alexander Kutikov, a urologic oncologist, and helped me get an appointment with him. When I met Dr. Kutikov, who is chair of the Department of Urology at Fox Chase and a member of the executive management team of the Fox Chase - Temple Urologic Institute, I was immediately struck by his kindness and calm confidence. He explained everything in detail and took time, even on a Saturday morning, to call me and talk through my options.
After some tests, he told me that my tumor was invasive and that my bladder couldn’t be saved. At first, I thought that would be catastrophic. But over time, I realized it wasn’t as bad as I imagined. You learn to adjust, and life goes on.
A Life-Saving Surgery
Before surgery, I underwent three rounds of very intense chemotherapy coordinated by the team at Fox Chase but done at a hospital near my home It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I reminded myself that it was giving me a chance to live.
On July 31, 2015, Dr. Kutikov performed surgery to remove my bladder and made it possible for me to use what’s known as an ostomy pouch to collect my urine. The care I received at Fox Chase was exceptional. Everyone, from the doctors to the nurses to the staff, treated me with compassion and respect. Fox Chase runs like a well-oiled machine, which made all the difference when I was at one of the most vulnerable points in my life.
Later, I learned that my cancer was small cell bladder cancer, an extremely rare and aggressive type that makes up only about 0.3% of bladder cancers. When I looked it up, the survival rate was grim, with only about 13% of people surviving for five years. That was hard to read. But here I am, more than 10 years later, still standing. I beat the odds.
Living With Gratitude
My journey didn’t end there. The tumor blocked the ureters, the tubes that move urine from the kidney to the bladder, eventually leading to kidney failure. I managed my kidney function for nine years before receiving a kidney transplant in 2023.
Today, I feel great. My kidney function is strong, and I’m living life to the fullest. I told Dr. Kutikov that if he ever has a patient going through what I did, I’d be happy to talk with them. I’ve already helped a few people learn to manage their ostomy pouches and adjust to their new normal.
Finding Purpose After Cancer
After my surgery, I retired from my family business, which I’d been part of for 52 years. My wife Dina and I met through a church mission in the Bronx, New York, and 22 years ago we started a ministry in El Salvador, installing clean water wells in remote villages. Since then, we’ve brought safe, fresh water to 62 communities.
Dina passed away three years ago after 49 wonderful years of marriage. Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced, but I’m grateful for every day we had together. I’ve kept our mission going. It’s what she would have wanted.
These days, I spend my time woodworking, hiking in the mountains, and enjoying nature. I love being with my five grandchildren. Every moment with them feels like a gift, a gift I wouldn’t have had without the incredible care I received at Fox Chase.
Looking Forward
Cancer changes your perspective. I’ve learned that life is precious, and none of us knows how long we have. I try to do something kind for someone every day, no matter how small.
My advice to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis is simple: Go to Fox Chase Cancer Center. It’s worth the trip, no matter where you’re coming from. If any of my family ever faced cancer, I wouldn’t let them go anywhere else.
I’m living proof that there’s hope and that with the right care, you can beat the odds.
Learn more about treatment for bladder cancer at Fox Chase Cancer Center.