If you have surgery to remove the bladder (radical cystectomy) you will need another way to collect and store urine. This is known as a urinary diversion. It is a significant change, and your treatment team will offer support to help you adjust.
You can talk to your surgeon about the best type of urinary diversion for your situation.
Learn about these recommended options:
- urostomy – creates an artificial opening to your urinary system
- neobladder – creates a new bladder from your small bowel
- continent urinary diversion – creates a pouch for holding urine from your small bowel.
The surgery and other bladder cancer treatments can have a range of impacts on sexuality and fertility, but there are ways to manage these.
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.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
Featured Resource
The information on this page is also available for download.
Additional Resources
Need to talk?
Support services
Life after cancer treatment
Webinars, exercise and nutrition, sexuality programs, and back-to-work support
Coping with cancer?
Talk with a health professional or someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Cancer information
Back to ‘normal’
Finding a new normal after cancer treatment
Staying healthy after treatment
A balanced approach to exercise, diet and risk factors