Your general practitioner (GP) will arrange the first tests to assess your symptoms. If these tests do not rule out cancer, you will usually be referred to a specialist called a urologist, who will arrange further tests. If bladder cancer is diagnosed, the urologist will consider treatment options.
Often the urologist will discuss your treatment options with other health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting.
During and after treatment, you will see a range of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care.
Health professionals you may see
| GP | assists you with treatment decisions and works with your specialists in providing ongoing care |
| urologist/urological surgeon |
treats diseases of the male and female urinary systems and the male reproductive system; performs surgery |
| medical oncologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy |
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy |
| cancer care coordinator |
coordinates your care, liaises with other members of the MDT and supports you and your family throughout treatment; care may also be coordinated by a clinical nurse consultant (CNC) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS), such as a urology nurse specialist |
| nurse | administers drugs and provides care, information and support throughout treatment |
| continence nurse | assesses bladder and bowel control, and helps you find ways to manage any changes |
| stomal therapy nurse | provides information about surgery and can help you adjust to life with a temporary or permanent stoma |
| dietitian | recommends an eating plan to follow during treatment and recovery |
| social worker | links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical and financial issues |
| physiotherapist, occupational therapist |
assist with physical and practical problems, including restoring movement and mobility after treatment, and recommending aids and equipment |
| psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor |
help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment |
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Additional resources
Prof Dickon Hayne, UWA Medical School, The University of Western Australia, and Head, Urology, South Metropolitan Health Service, WA; BEAT Bladder Cancer Australia; Dr Anne Capp, Senior Staff Specialist, Radiation Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, NSW; Marc Diocera, Genitourinary Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Peter Heathcote, Senior Urologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and Adjunct Professor, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, QLD; Melissa Le Mesurier, Consumer; Dr James Lynam, Medical Oncologist Staff Specialist, Calvary Mater Newcastle and The University of Newcastle, NSW; John McDonald, Consumer; Michael Twycross, Consumer; Rosemary Watson, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria.
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