Questions about bladder cancer
Below are some questions about bladder cancer to ask your doctor to learn more about the disease, and your care and treatment options. If your doctor gives you answers that you don’t understand, ask for clarification.
- What type of bladder cancer do I have?
- How far has the cancer spread? What is the grade?
- What treatment do you recommend and why?
- Are there other treatment choices for me? If not, why not?
- If I don’t have treatment, what should I expect?
- How long do I have to make a decision?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
- If an operation is recommended, how many times have you performed it?
- If I need to have the bladder removed, what sort of urinary diversion would be best for me?
- How long will treatment take? Will I have to stay in hospital?
- How much will treatment cost? How can the cost be reduced?
- Will I have a lot of pain? What will be done about this?
- Will the treatment affect my sex life and fertility?
- Are the latest tests and treatments for bladder cancer available in this hospital?
- Are there any clinical trials or research studies I could join?
- Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?
- How frequently will I need check-ups after treatment?
- If the cancer comes back, how will I know? What would my treatment options be?
This information was last reviewed in February 2018
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