What to Expect at Your First Bladder Cancer Appointment

We’ll be here for you every step of the way.

It’s normal to have questions or be concerned after receiving a diagnosis of bladder cancer. But you won’t be alone on your journey.

Our team will meet with you to answer all your questions and explain what happens next. Knowing what to expect can help calm your fears and give you a sense of control over your treatment. In most cases, our team provides a treatment plan with one visit.

What should I expect from my first appointment?

It’s important that you understand your diagnosis and treatment options. This information is crucial to the choices you will make for your care.

During your clinic-based appointment, your will meet your bladder cancer team. They will discuss your treatment care plan with you and your loved ones and answer your questions.

Your bladder cancer team will include:

• Experienced surgeons: Our urologic surgeons are among the most experienced in the country, having performed more than 1,500 robotic urologic surgeries.
• Dedicated nurse navigators: All patients have a dedicated bladder cancer nurse to support your care journey and assist with appointment scheduling
• Enterostomal nurses: Depending on your care plan, your bladder cancer team may include enterostomal nurses, who specialize in helping patients live with surgically reconstructed bladders or new urinary pathways requiring catheters or urine bags.
• Medical oncologists: A specialist with advanced training in treating advanced bladder cancers with chemotherapy.
• Radiation oncologist: a specialist trained in treating cancer with radiation therapy.

How is my bladder cancer treatment plan created?

Deciding the best course of action for treating bladder cancer and managing your unique needs requires knowledge and experience.

Our experts will closely review and discuss your case at our weekly tumor board meeting to develop a treatment plan that is unique to your cancer type and health needs.

Our tumor board includes specialists from several medical fields:

• Urology
• Medical oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology
• Clinical trials
• Nurse navigators
• Social work and other cancer support services

Our team provides a treatment plan with one visit whenever possible. After reviewing your treatment plan with you, your nurse navigators will help arrange all your necessary appointments. Your bladder cancer nurse navigator is available anytime to answer your questions or help schedule appointments.

What questions should I ask my bladder cancer doctors?

As you prepare for your first appointment, consider asking the following questions of your bladder cancer care team:

• What type and grade of bladder cancer do I have?
• What stage is my cancer, and how does that affect my treatment options?
• Do I need more tests?
• How soon should I begin treatment?
• How should I prepare for treatment?
• Will my treatment include bladder removal?
• How might my life change after treatment?