At City of Hope, we understand that choosing a treatment approach for bladder cancer should depend as much on the patient’s personal preferences as on the type and stage of the disease.
For this reason, you may undergo tests such as a cystoscopy, advanced genomic testing, biopsy and/or X-ray to determine the type and extent of the disease. Then, your multidisciplinary team will work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that’s personalized to your individual needs, preferences and goals. It’s all part of our commitment to putting patients at the center of their care.
Cancers of the genitourinary tract are such an important focus at City of Hope that we developed the Genitourinary Cancer Program. The singular focus of the program is diagnosing and treating genitourinary cancer—and supporting your quality of life. Our collaborative care team works with you to deliver quality clinical care with a patient-centered approach. For example, because many bladder patients experience sexual side effects and urinary incontinence related to their treatment, the program includes specialists who are fellowship-trained in urologic reconstruction, including in the use of prosthetics.
Learn more about bladder cancer
Your bladder cancer care team works all under one roof. That means you have access to state-of-the-art cancer treatments and supportive care therapies all in one location. Your team will be coordinated by a care manager dedicated to orchestrating your schedule, communicating with the rest of your care team, getting your questions answered and helping you access your test results in a timely manner. Your care team may also include a medical, surgical and/or radiation oncologist, a urologic oncologist, a gastroenterologist, an interventional radiologist, oncology nurses and a variety of supportive care clinicians.
Learn more about our approach to cancer care
“We always put patients in charge of their care. Our job as physicians and caregivers is to provide patients with all the information about different options of treatment and encourage them to choose what’s best for them.”
Our doctors work with supportive care providers to deliver evidence-informed strategies designed to address the symptoms of each patient’s disease and the side effects of treatment. That’s what supportive care is all about: keeping you strong so you can better tolerate your treatments and maintain your quality of life. Our supportive care services include nutritional support to help develop a diet plan to help stay nourished, while pain management physicians offer medication and non-prescription approaches to help you keep your pain in check. And our spiritual support and behavioral health providers help support your mental and emotional health before, during and after your treatment.
Learn more about supportive care at City of Hope
Clinical trials are critical tools researchers and doctors use to determine the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and therapies. At City of Hope, we’re committed to offering our patients innovative and new cancer treatments, including access to clinical trials when appropriate. These trials may provide therapies that are not yet widely available to qualified patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options or whose cancer is advanced or difficult to treat. Our cancer doctors and researchers will work with you to determine whether you qualify for a trial and, if so, help you enroll.
Learn more about clinical trials at City of Hope
I had an entire team of doctors and clinicians focused on evaluating my cancer and recommending personalized treatment options. I was very scared, but through kindness and education, they helped me put that fear aside."
