Advanced Bladder Cancer Roadmap
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- Advanced Bladder Cancer Roadmap
Journey Overview
Advanced bladder cancer refers to cancer that began inside the bladder but has spread outside the bladder. With locally advanced bladder cancer, the cancer has grown and spread into reproductive organs or lymph nodes in the lower pelvis. With metastatic bladder cancer, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Most bladder cancers are urothelial carcinomas, a type of cancer that originates in the cells that line the inside of the bladder and urinary tract. Other types of bladder cancer are uncommon. If you or a loved one is living with advanced bladder cancer, this guide provides information to help you better understand the different treatments that are available, the healthcare providers that you will work with, and questions to ask your healthcare providers to take a more active role in your care.
Get to Know Your Care Team
People who are living with advanced bladder cancer will work with a team of healthcare providers with different specialties. This team can include:
Urologist
A urologist is a medical doctor with special training in treating conditions that affect the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive system (a branch of medicine called urology). Urologists are surgeons, and a urologist would perform any surgical procedures needed in the diagnosis and treatment of advanced bladder cancer.
Oncologists
Oncologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat cancer. Oncologists often specialize in certain types of cancers or specific types of treatment. For example, urologic oncologists specialize in cancers related to urology, and medical oncologists oversee treatment with drugs and medications, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drugs.
Oncology Social Worker
Oncology social workers are professionals who work with people and families living with cancer. An oncology social worker can help you cope with the practical and emotional challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. This can include understanding insurance coverage, finding local support services, and providing counseling.
Other Providers
Advanced bladder cancer impacts different people in different ways. There are a variety of other healthcare providers and professionals that you may work with during and after treatment, including physical and occupational therapists, a registered dietitian, pain management specialists, and mental health professionals.
Advanced Bladder Cancer Treatment Options
- Treatment typically involves a combination of different therapies, and each person’s treatment plan is a bit different.
- A treatment plan can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drugs.
- Healthcare providers will consider different factors about the diagnosis and about the person being treated when making recommendations.
- Social support and mental health support are also important aspects of treatment.
It’s important to advocate for yourself and what you want when making treatment decisions. Work with your healthcare team to understand the goals, the benefits, the side effects, and the day-to-day impact of different treatment approaches.
The Conversation: Questions for Your Healthcare Team
Your healthcare providers will be your best source of information about your diagnosis, your treatment, and your quality of life while living with advanced bladder cancer.
- What are the most important things I should know about my diagnosis?
- What type of cancer do I have?
- What is the stage of the cancer?
- Where has the cancer spread to?
- Can you explain the results of the pathology report?
- Are there other tests that I need at this time?
- Are there other specialists I should see?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- Why do you recommend this approach?
- How does this treatment work?
- What is the goal of this treatment?
- What side effects should I expect?
- How will treatment affect my day-to-day life?
- What can I do to keep myself as healthy as possible during treatment? What should I avoid doing?
- What will this treatment cost? Who can I talk to if I am concerned about the cost of treatment?
- What will happen after treatment?
- What will recovery from this treatment be like?
- Will I be able to return to work and normal activities?
- What lifestyle changes should I make after treatment?
- How will we know if the treatment worked?
- What follow-up exams and tests should I expect?
- What treatment options do I have if the cancer comes back?
If you have a question about any aspect of your diagnosis or care, your healthcare providers will be your best source of information.
Join the Social Conversation:
#BladderCancer #BladderCancerAwareness #BladderCancerAware #BCAwareness
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