Richard Willey

Diagnosis: Bladder cancer

Richard Willey was born in 1947 in a small town in southwestern Wisconsin. After completing high school he went on to college followed by a stint in U.S. Army. After proudly serving in the military he went on to one year of graduate school, where he meet his now wife of many years, Maurine.

After marriage he began working as an investigator for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ending his career as supervisor of the Milwaukee FDA Office.

He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in September of 2012. Following one minor surgery and a series of immunotherapy treatments that proved unsuccessful, he had his bladder and prostate removed in February of 2013. At the time of surgery it was discovered he also had prostate cancer that had not spread.

Richard now has a neobladder that was constructed from intestinal tissue at the time of surgery. He is living an active life and enjoying the activities he had prior to his surgery.