A devoted father who thought he had a minor urinary infection was left devastated after discovering he had terminal bladder cancer – just one day after his 50th birthday.
Chris Cotton, a dad-of-two from Sandbach, Cheshire, first noticed something was wrong in October 2022. He was experiencing pain when passing urine and found himself going to the toilet more frequently.
Believing it was a urinary tract infection, he visited his GP, was prescribed antibiotics, and turned to cranberry juice in hopes it would ease the discomfort. His symptoms began to subside, but the relief was short-lived as the pain soon returned.
Chris made repeated visits to his doctor. In January 2024, he was finally referred to Leighton Hospital in Crewe for further tests. A CT scan and biopsy revealed the shocking truth – Chris had muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
Doctors removed a 10cm tumour from his bladder, and the biopsy results confirmed the disease had already spread to his pelvic lymph nodes and to a vessel near his bladder making the cancer terminal.
The devastating diagnosis was delivered on January 3, 2025, just a day after Chris celebrated his 50th birthday. Doctors told him he had between 12 and 24 months to live.
“Hearing those words was surreal,” Chris said. “It was a huge shock – not just to me, but to my incredibly strong and supportive wife Hannah, and our two wonderful daughters, aged 12 and 14.
“Our world changed overnight to a world of learning new things about cancer, hospital appointments, and difficult conversations with family and friends.”
He added: “When I asked about a time frame, the oncologist said that if the cancer continued to spread and other options didn’t work, I’d be looking at 12 to 24 months.
“I was upset at that point. Your mind starts racing. If I only have that long to live – what do I do? There are things I wanted to do in my lifetime, places I wanted to see.”
Chris has since started six cycles of chemotherapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, aiming to prolong his life for as long as possible. Despite the prognosis, he’s choosing to find purpose in the pain.
He’s now raising funds for Maggie’s, a cancer support charity that has been by his side throughout his diagnosis.
On September 7, 2025, Chris will take part in the Tour De 4 – a 56-mile cycling challenge in Glasgow organised by Sir Chris Hoy’s charity, inspired by the Olympic cyclist’s own battle with stage 4 prostate cancer.
“When I heard that Sir Chris Hoy had been diagnosed, it gave me hope,” Chris said. “His approach to the diagnosis inspired me. Cycling has always been a big part of my life, from racing in town centres as a teenager to completing extreme Ironman triathlons. It’s something I’ve always found great solace in, especially during tough times.”
Chris hopes that by sharing his story, he can help others recognise the early signs of bladder cancer and seek medical advice before it’s too late.
According to the NHS, symptoms can include a burning sensation while passing urine, frequent or urgent urination, pelvic or bone pain, unintentional weight loss, and swelling in the legs.
“I want people to listen to their bodies,” Chris said. “Don’t ignore the signs. If something doesn’t feel right, get it checked. If telling my story helps even one person get diagnosed earlier, then it’s worth it.”
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