It is important for you to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. They want to answer all of your questions, no matter how trivial you might think they are. Some questions to consider:

• What type of bladder cancer do I have?
• Do you think my cancer has spread beyond the bladder?
• What is the stage and microscopic grade of my cancer and what does that mean in my case?
• What are my treatment options? What do you recommend? Why?
• What are the risks or side effects that I should expect?
• How many times have you performed this operation or treatment?
• What is your success rate with cases similar to mine?
• What are the chances of my cancer coming back with the treatment programs we have discussed?
• What should I do to prepare for treatment?
• Should I follow a special diet?
• Will I be able to have children after my treatment?
• What is my expected prognosis based on my cancer as you view it?
• What method of urinary diversion do you recommend?
• If you aren’t familiar with the latest techniques or don’t treat bladder cancer frequently, can you suggest a doctor who is?

In addition to these sample questions, be sure to write down some of your own. For instance, you might want more information about recovery times so you can plan your work schedule. You may also want to ask about second opinions or about clinical trials for which you may qualify.

Last Medical Review: 01/27/2009
Last Revised: 5/13/2009