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How is bladder cancer treated?

Depending on the?stage?of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for people with bladder cancer can include:

Common treatment approaches

Surgery, alone or with other treatments, is used to treat most bladder cancers.

Early-stage bladder tumors can often be removed. But a major concern in people with early-stage bladder cancer is that new cancers often form in other parts of the bladder over time. Removing the entire bladder (with a radical cystectomy) is one way to lower the risk of the cancer coming back, but it causes major side effects. If the entire bladder is not removed, other treatments may be used to try to lower the risk of new cancers. Whether or not other treatments are given, close follow-up is needed to watch for signs of new cancers in the bladder.

Surgery is also often part of the treatment for more advanced bladder cancers, although other treatments are typically used as well, sometimes even before surgery.

Who treats bladder cancer?

Based on your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team. This might include:

• Urologist: A doctor?who specializes in treating diseases and conditions?of the urinary system and male reproductive system
• Radiation oncologist: A doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy
• Medical oncologist: A doctor who treat cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy

You might have many other specialists on your treatment team as well, including physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, nutrition specialists, pharmacists, social workers, and other health professionals.

Making treatment decisions

It¡¯s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. Some important things to consider include:

• Your age and overall health
• The stage and grade?of your cancer
• The likelihood that treatment will cure your cancer or help in some other way
• Your feelings about the possible side effects from treatment

You may feel that you need to decide quickly, but it¡¯s important to give yourself time to absorb the information you have just learned. It¡¯s also very important to ask questions if there is anything you¡¯re not sure about.

It is often a good idea to seek a second opinion. A second opinion can give you more information and help you feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose.