Father Diagnosed with Stage 4 Bladder Cancer After Misdiagnosed UTI, Given 24 Months to Live

Chris Cotton, a 50-year-old father from the UK, initially mistook symptoms such as painful and frequent urination for a urinary tract infection, relying on antibiotics and cranberry juice for relief. When his discomfort returned despite treatment, repeated trips to his GP eventually led to a referral for further testing in January 2024. A CT scan and biopsy revealed he had advanced, muscle-invasive bladder cancer that had already spread to his pelvic lymph nodes and other nearby vessels. Doctors removed a 10cm tumor and informed him the cancer was incurable, with an estimated prognosis of 12 to 24 months to live. The diagnosis was a devastating shock to Chris and his family, radically altering their daily life and leading to difficult conversations about the future. Chris is now undergoing chemotherapy in hopes of extending his time with his wife and two young daughters.