The evidence-based treatment plan your doctor chooses is based on a number of factors: type of cancer, grade and stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your treatment preferences.
Surgery
Surgery is used to remove cancerous tissue from the body, and may involve a portion or all of the bladder.
Reconstructive surgery is used to create a new way for urine to exit the body after bladder removal.
The surgeons at the Middlesex Urology Group provide the highest quality care using the latest surgical technologies. They work closely with the Cancer Center team to plan and deliver your treatments.
Medical Oncology
For bladder cancer, medical oncology involves the use of chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
- Intravesical chemotherapy: Chemotherapy in the bladder to treat tumors that are confined to the lining of the bladder but have a right risk of recurrence or progression to a higher stage.
- Systemic chemotherapy: Chemotherapy by intravenous injection (IV) or by pill, used along with or in place of surgery.
- Immunotherapy: Medication to trigger the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells in the bladder or throughout the body.
The board-certified medical oncologists, nurses, and technicians at Connecticut Oncology Group provide the most effective, advanced care with warm, personal attention and support for patients and their families. Your medical oncology team will work closely with your other providers and help provide access to clinical trials.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology is the highly-controlled use of radiation to cure or treat symptoms of bladder cancer.
Learn more about radiation therapy options at Middlesex
Follow-up Care
- Surveillance: Bladder cancer may recur, and therefore, you will need follow-up testing for years after successful treatment. As with your original cancer treatment, your doctors will determine which tests you need and how often. This plan could include:
- Follow-Up Cystoscopy: Many patients this text, to examine the inside of the bladder and urethra, every three to six months in the first few years after treatment. This frequency may decrease if you remain cancer free!
- Supportive Care: Living with the concern of recurrence can be difficult - you may feel that you have little control over your future. Keeping to a follow-up schedule with your care providers, taking care of your body through diet and exercise, and connecting with other survivors can help.