How is bladder cancer treated?

About treatment

There is a lot for you to think about when choosing the best way to treat or manage your cancer. There may be more than one treatment to choose from. You may feel that you need to make a decision quickly. But give yourself time to absorb the information you have learned. Talk to your doctor. Look at the list of questions in the section “What are some questions I can ask my doctor?” to get some ideas. Then add your own.

If time permits, you may want to get a second opinion about the best treatment option for you. Doing so can give you more information and help you feel better about the treatment plan you choose. You will want to weigh the benefits of each treatment against side effects and risks.

The main types of treatment for bladder cancer are:

• Surgery
• Intravesical therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

Surgery, alone or along with other treatments, is used in nearly all cases.

You may have different types of doctors on your treatment team. The types of doctors who treat bladder cancers include:

• Urologists: surgeons who treat diseases of the urinary system
• Radiation oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with radiation
• Medical oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy

Many other experts may be involved in your care as well, including nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, and others.