Surgery for Bladder Cancer: Patient Care Resources
Surgery is a common treatment for bladder cancer. The type of surgery your team recommends is determined by the depth of the tumor and other factors. Your doctor may recommend drug therapy before surgery to shrink the tumor, so it is easier to remove. Drug therapy or radiation therapy is also sometimes used after surgery.
Bladders surgeries vary in the amount of tissue doctors remove. If surgery provides a good treatment option, you will meet with a surgical oncologist to develop a plan. Surgery is different for every patient. Your surgical oncologist (cancer surgeon) will work with you to determine the least invasive and most effective surgery for your condition. We also help you prepare for your surgery and your recovery at home.
WHAT TO KNOW TO PREPARE FOR BLADDER CANCER SURGERY
1Getting Started In Your Care
2Getting Your Diagnosis
3Planning Your Treatment
4Undergoing Treatment & Follow-Up
Bladder Surgery: Patient Care Resources
Getting Ready for Surgery
Your surgery team has worked with you to develop the therapy plan that’s right for you, based on the details of your diagnosis.
Before
During
After
Several days before your surgery, you will meet with your anesthesiologist to discuss your options and preferences for sedation. The anesthesiologist will stand near your head to administer the anesthesia and monitor you before and during surgery. At this meeting, you and the anesthesiologist will:
- Review your medical history
- Discuss any allergies you may have
- Review the plan for anesthesia during your surgery
The length of time for your surgery, hospital stay, and recovery depends on your individual case. Factors include the type of surgery you have and the details of your diagnosis.
There are two general types of operations that are done for bladder cancer. The first type is called transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and it is performed in patients when bladder cancer is first suspected. In this operation, a camera is placed through the urethra to see the tumor and small tools are used to scrape out the tumor. General anesthesia is required and the procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes. Most patients go home the same day after TURBT. Sometimes a tube is left in the bladder for one or more days after TURBT to allow the bladder to heal.
The second type of operation involves removal of the entire bladder. This operation is called radical cystectomy and it is usually done to try to cure the patient of bladder cancer. It is a major undertaking because it involves three complex operations that must be done at the same time: i) removal of the bladder and nearby organs, ii) removal of lymph nodes, and iii) construction of a new way for the body to handle urine removal. This operation can be done with the traditional open method or the robotic method and it can take anywhere from five to eight hours. Most patients spend between two to four days recovering in the hospital.
For patients that need extra help adjusting after bladder removal surgery, we often make arrangements to have trained nurses visit you at home. For patients that are extremely weak, that live alone, or that have circumstances that make it unsafe for them to be at home alone, our case managers work with rehabilitation hospitals and skilled nursing facilities near your home to find the place that will best help you recover.
Lymph node dissection
Lymph nodes are small glands that filter bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and other impurities from the body. There is a density of lymph nodes around the large blood vessels near the bladder. These are the first places cancer usually spreads when it escapes from the bladder. If you are undergoing surgery to remove your bladder, your surgeon may also remove these lymph nodes as part of the same operation.
After lymph nodes are removed, a pathologist assesses them for cancer.
Come in for your post-op appointment
Your post-op appointment may take place 1-4 weeks after your surgery depeding on the type of operation you have. We will work with you before your surgery to choose a day and time for this visit. During the appointment, you meet with a member of your care team to:
- Review the pathology report from your surgery
- Change your dressings, if needed
- Address any concerns
Several days before your surgery, you will meet with your anesthesiologist to discuss your options and preferences for sedation. The anesthesiologist will stand near your head to administer the anesthesia and monitor you before and during surgery. At this meeting, you and the anesthesiologist will:
- Review your medical history
- Discuss any allergies you may have
- Review the plan for anesthesia during your surgery
close Before
The length of time for your surgery, hospital stay, and recovery depends on your individual case. Factors include the type of surgery you have and the details of your diagnosis.
There are two general types of operations that are done for bladder cancer. The first type is called transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and it is performed in patients when bladder cancer is first suspected. In this operation, a camera is placed through the urethra to see the tumor and small tools are used to scrape out the tumor. General anesthesia is required and the procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes. Most patients go home the same day after TURBT. Sometimes a tube is left in the bladder for one or more days after TURBT to allow the bladder to heal.
The second type of operation involves removal of the entire bladder. This operation is called radical cystectomy and it is usually done to try to cure the patient of bladder cancer. It is a major undertaking because it involves three complex operations that must be done at the same time: i) removal of the bladder and nearby organs, ii) removal of lymph nodes, and iii) construction of a new way for the body to handle urine removal. This operation can be done with the traditional open method or the robotic method and it can take anywhere from five to eight hours. Most patients spend between two to four days recovering in the hospital.
For patients that need extra help adjusting after bladder removal surgery, we often make arrangements to have trained nurses visit you at home. For patients that are extremely weak, that live alone, or that have circumstances that make it unsafe for them to be at home alone, our case managers work with rehabilitation hospitals and skilled nursing facilities near your home to find the place that will best help you recover.
Lymph node dissection
Lymph nodes are small glands that filter bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and other impurities from the body. There is a density of lymph nodes around the large blood vessels near the bladder. These are the first places cancer usually spreads when it escapes from the bladder. If you are undergoing surgery to remove your bladder, your surgeon may also remove these lymph nodes as part of the same operation.
After lymph nodes are removed, a pathologist assesses them for cancer.
close During
Come in for your post-op appointment
Your post-op appointment may take place 1-4 weeks after your surgery depeding on the type of operation you have. We will work with you before your surgery to choose a day and time for this visit. During the appointment, you meet with a member of your care team to:
- Review the pathology report from your surgery
- Change your dressings, if needed
- Address any concerns
close After
If you need surgery, our surgical oncology (cancer surgery) team manages your care during this part of your treatment. We work with you to explain our recommendations for your surgical plan to help you decide what’s right for you. We also help you prepare for your surgery and your recovery at home.
You are an important part of the care team, too, so ask us questions and voice your concerns at any point in your treatment. Members of your surgical oncology team include:
Your Doctors
Surgeon
Also known as a surgical oncologist, your cancer surgeon specializes in surgical procedures to diagnose and treat cancer. Your surgeon serves as your attending physician, the doctor who directs your care team.
Surgical oncologists perform biopsies (taking samples of tissue) to test for bladder cancer and confirm a diagnosis. They help you choose the best type of surgery for your cancer. Potential options include traditional (open) approaches or minimally invasive (robotic) techniques to remove the bladder cancer and surrounding tissue.
Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in using medications to block pain during surgery. These medications also help you relax during the procedure or ease you into unconsciousness. After giving medication, your anesthesiologist monitors vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate throughout your surgery and immediate recovery.
Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may need local (small area), regional (larger area), or general (overall) anesthesia. You will meet your anesthesiologist before surgery to review your case in detail. For patients with complex medical problems, the anesthesiology team may ask to meet with you one or more days before your surgery.
Pathologist
Working closely with your oncologist, your pathologist performs and reads laboratory tests to determine the type and stage of your bladder cancer. Our pathologists have special training to detect and diagnose bladder cancer. They use a microscope to examine tissue samples removed during TURBT or bladder removal surgery. As with radiologists, you may not meet your pathologist while he/she works with your oncologist to diagnose your cancer.
Extended Care Team
This health care provider works with your surgical oncologist to help with diagnosis and treatment. An APP can be a nurse practitioner (NP), physician’s assistant (PA), or clinical nurse specialist (CNS).
Our NC will work with you before your surgery to provide instructions about preparing for the procedure, as well as for your recovery at home. This discussion will cover:
- What to do in the days before surgery
- How to handle your return home, including arranging for help for the first few days
- Answers to your questions
The CAA helps with administrative issues such as scheduling your appointments, managing your paperwork, and requesting your medical records.
If you need to stay in the hospital after surgery, a registered nurse will take care of you.
This team member greets you at the front desk and registers you for your appointments.
A Surgery scheduler will arrange your pre-surgical appointments with your surgical oncologist. This staff member also schedules your surgeries
Support Services
PATHWELL SUPPORT SERVICES
PathWell is your connection to personalized support services before, during, and after your treatment. Our teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, nutrition experts, financial counselors, and more work with your oncology team to provide comprehensive specialized care to you and to your family.
- 650-498-6000 Ask for the PathWell team
Stanford Health Library
For confidential help with your health care questions, contact the Stanford Health Library. Professional medical librarians and trained volunteers, access journals, books, e-books, databases, and videos to learn more about medical conditions, treatment options, and related issues.
- 875 Blake Wilbur, Palo Alto: 1st floor near the cafe, 650-736-1960
- South Bay Cancer Center: 3rd floor lobby, 408-353-0197
Email us your questions: healthlibrary@stanfordhealthcare.org