EDUCATION

The goal of treatment is to remove most or all of the cancer. Doing so may preserve bladder function. This may also help to keep cancer from spreading or coming back. The treatment plan often uses more than one method. This is based on the type of bladder cancer, patient's age, general health, and outlook. Comfort measures are given to those with later stages of cancer.

The healthcare team will be made up of doctors, surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists. It’s important to stay in touch with your team, follow the course of treatment, and go to appointments to get the best outcomes.

Bladder cancer treatment includes:

Treatments for many cancers are always changing. Some have yet to be found. As a result, clinical trials exist around the world. You may wish to ask your doctor if you should enlist in a clinical trial. You can find out about them at the US National Institutes of Health website.

REFERENCES:

Bladder cancer. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115106/Bladder-cancer. Updated June 26, 2018. Accessed August 3, 2018.

Bladder cancer. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary-disorders/genitourinary-cancer/bladder-cancer. Updated October 2017. Accessed August 3, 2018.

Treating bladder cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/treating.html. Accessed August 3, 2018.

Treatment option overview. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/bladder/patient/bladder-treatment-pdq. Updated May 3, 2018. Accessed August 3, 2018.

Treatment options by stage. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/bladder/patient/bladder-treatment-pdq#section/_166. Updated May 3, 2018. Accessed August 3, 2018.

Last reviewed May 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP  Last Updated: 8/3/2018