Clinical trials, cystoscopes, transurethral resections of diverticular tumors, and bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatments are hardly the typical training program for a Masters Track and Field athlete. Yet, during my bladder cancer journey, I also won 4 world championship gold medals, 6 national championships, and set 3 age-group American records.

So, when people told me mine was an interesting story, I believed them, even agreeing to give presentations when asked. “Who knows, maybe it will give someone a small boost of hope or inspiration,” I thought.

When I was selected as Patient Perspectives presenter for AUA2023, little did I know what I would learn there.

The other Patient Perspectives presentations were not only very interesting, they were truly inspiring stories. From the determined Texan who has completed multiple Ironman triathlons as his way of recovering from and coping with prostate cancer, to the patient whose amazing willpower led him to create an exercise routine he could do in his hospital bed, and the remarkable young woman whose curiosity led to the discovery of unknown contradictions between pregnancy tests and bladder augmentation. The stories were moving and informative.

Now, before I risk being accused of false modesty, let me say I received very positive feedback about my story and presentation as well. But the point here isn’t whether a patient’s presentation was awe-inspiring, groundbreaking, or even professionally polished.

In Masters Track and Field, we often say, “Participation is the victory.” For any patient to open their emotional “kimono,” so to speak, and give an audience a glimpse into their personal experiences, trials, tribulations, and at times, triumphs, is itself a victory for all of us, and an opportunity for caregivers.

Dr Woldu and the medical team at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center were a huge part of the success of my bladder cancer journey. Outside of the medical diagnosis, they made it clear that quality of life was as important a consideration for them in assessing my treatment options as it was for me.

During my journey, from the discovery of a golf ball–sized tumor in my bladder to completing my final treatment, I met numerous patients who were not exposed to, or supported by, the same collaboration, enthusiasm, and dare I even say, hopefulness for quality of life as I had been fortunate to experience.

So, it was intentional that my presentation focused on quality of life, specifically, easy ways to encourage patients to exercise during treatment. I shared tips and personal experiences in areas such as how “less can be more,” the importance of “lightening up and having fun,” how “measuring process leads to progress,” ways to “think outside the typical fitness box,” ideas for building a “support community or two,” and the benefit of “shared goal setting” between the patient and the medical team.

What really struck me was how this shared goal setting or collaboration was a common theme across all the Patient Perspectives presentations.

Some Patient Perspectives described the patient-physician collaboration with gratitude for having received it. Others described it with a level of frustration because of its absence. Everyone included it as part of their presentation.

I was fortunate that Dr Woldu and his team created a collaborative environment from the very start. I had already been to another urologist and knew that this was not the approach for every urologist or oncologist. But after listening to the other Patient Perspectives, I cannot overemphasize how important it is to every patient.

As one patient stated, some physicians have spent several hundred hours studying very specific illnesses, but as patients, we actually live with these illnesses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, year after year. A patient’s insight is something every good physician should not only welcome but actively want to seek out.

Without question, I walked away from AUA2023 with more knowledge, more insight, more inspiration, and even more hope than I could have imagined. And I am not even a medical professional.

I encourage every physician to attend Patient Perspectives at the AUA Annual Meeting and, even more importantly, to seek out patient perspectives in their day-to-day practice.

My fellow patients and I look forward to seeing you at the next AUA Annual Meeting.