This post is part of our SWOG Stories series, a collection of diverse perspectives from doctors, recruiters, members, patient advocates, and others across the Group. You can listen to all of these wonderful conversations here


“Our prayer, every day, is that patients learn to advocate for themselves. Ask more questions. Because we did not know to ask for a clinical trial.”

– Amy Blanford

In a conversation captured by StoryCorps Chicago, Craig and Amy Blanford speak with Craig’s oncologist, Dr. Ian Thompson. This piece details Craig’s journey with bladder cancer, from diagnosis to treatment, and how a clinical trial changed his life.

Please help The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research to continue supporting trials like the one that helped Craig Blanford by giving a gift today.

StoryCorps is a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. www.storycorps.org.