Urology Awareness Month takes place every September and has three aims: to raise awareness, to raise money, and to smash taboos. In 2018, a group of online activists have taken inspiration from Urology Awareness Month and have decided to take on the business of smashing taboos throughout September.
These activists have picked up some of the roughest and most difficult parts of being a urology patient, and they’ve shared them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, so that they can inspire others.
Each activist has been posting a different black and white picture each day since the start of Urology Awareness Month. The pictures capture what it’s like to live with a stoma bag and to have a chronic urological condition. From the daily physical struggles to the mental battles that can come with chronic urology disease, these activists have been bold with what they’ve shared.
You can see some great examples below and find more by checking out #urologyawareness.
We’d like to thank everyone who has taken part in this campaign and everyone who has supported them. Your work can be an inspiration to the millions of people who have a urology disease and you are helping us to break down the barriers that too often prevent us from speaking openly about urology disease.
Here is yesterday's day 10 and today's day 11 of #urologyawareness pictures! 1st pic is of a leaflet I recieved when I had my suprapubic catheter. The 2nd picture is of another night bag I use for #urostomy @TUF_tweets #StrongerTogether #weetaboo #catheters pic.twitter.com/a69hPQbaoB
— Rocking2Stomas (@rocking2stomas) September 11, 2018
Day 5 of #urologyawareness and braving a picture of my bare urostomy! Setting the scene for tomorrow's picture! @TUF_tweets #urostomy #urologicaldisease #awareness #urology #speakingoutchangeslives pic.twitter.com/EmzVC1bbHl
— Rocking2Stomas (@rocking2stomas) September 5, 2018
Day 11 ofblack and white photo for #UrologyAwareness month Nurse led transperineal prostate biopsies under GA #ANP #nursedevelopment #cancerpathways @MEHTexperience @ProstateUKProfs @BAUNnurses @ProstateUK @shingler_jo pic.twitter.com/t8D7fF0KIy
— MehtUrology (@Meht_Urology) September 11, 2018
Day 6 of black and white photo for #UrologyAwareness Core skills - male catheterisation. Educating with hands on training by our fab urology CNS team @broomfieldnhs @stubbings56 @shingler_jo @Lorrain03130474 @Amanda50832788 @ajlewiskalg pic.twitter.com/O19CIWkOQI
— MehtUrology (@Meht_Urology) September 6, 2018
#urologyawareness 2018 photo day 10 so carrying on the urological story. Stents catheters msu...So after another disaster with bladder. The surgeon said he would pop in a “perk”. I had no idea what that was. Thought it might be an injection. ! pic.twitter.com/CyLbKdUTFH
— J (@BoariJacq1) September 10, 2018
Day 11 #urologyawareness its all about the confidence good ostomy underwear gives rocking my Beautiful @VBlush knickers one of many the integrated Panel is fantastic to sit your bags in @TUF_tweets @EKHUFT_Stoma @GuysUrology @ASCNUK @Coloplast_UK @pw_charity pic.twitter.com/4yPyf9anlo
— Vikki aka doubletroublestomagirl68 (@vikkipalmer68) September 11, 2018
Day 9 #urologyawareness B/W picture is my convex urostomy bag and seal I have to wear convex as I have a retracted and stenosed urostomy convex should only be prescribed by @TUF_tweets @ASCNUK @pw_charity @GuysUrology @EKHUFT_Stoma @Coloplast_UK pic.twitter.com/s9Pq7Ygqiz
— Vikki aka doubletroublestomagirl68 (@vikkipalmer68) September 9, 2018
Day 5 #UrologyAwareness I was incredibly proud,excited to be part of the campaign @rocking2stomas to raise #urostomy awareness fantastic people sharing there urostomy pictures #weebagsunite #togetherwerestronger @GuysUrology @TUF_tweets @pw_charity @ASCNUK pic.twitter.com/qbXPoGY37B
— Vikki aka doubletroublestomagirl68 (@vikkipalmer68) September 6, 2018
Day 3 of #urologyawareness and I’m posting B&W photo of the #bladdercancer cupcakes I made for the info stand @HHFTnhs on Monday spreading awareness @TUF_tweets @BladderCancerUK pic.twitter.com/k91600CJBg
— My big fat British Bladder Tumour (@big_british) September 6, 2018
