Bladder cancer

Key Staff

Consultants/ surgeons and secretary details

Mr.Babbin John
Mr.Rami Issa
Secretaries: jacquie.bailey@nhs.net and lisa.bonocore@nhs.net

Cancer Nursing teams

Sofika Pina
Annete Mugiraweza
Emma O'Sullivan
Joshila Bhudoye & Lynne Perry (Macmillan Support Officers)

Working hours: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

Tel: 020 8401 3000 Ext 4406

Email: ch-tr.urologynursing@nhs.net

About Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the bladder lining. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the bladder muscle.

Once diagnosed, bladder cancer can be classified by how far it has spread.

If the cancerous cells are contained inside the lining of the bladder, doctors describe it as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (early bladder cancer). This is the most common type of bladder cancer.

When the cancerous cells spread beyond the lining, into the surrounding bladder muscle, it's referred to as muscle-invasive bladder cancer (or invasive bladder cancer). This is less common, but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body.

If bladder cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it's known as advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. More about Bladder cancer

What are the tests to confirm the diagnosis?

If a GP refers you to a specialist because they think you could have cancer, you'll have tests to check for cancer e.g. a cystoscopy .

If you've been told you have cancer, you may need more tests which can include:

CT scan
MRI scan
PET scan
blood tests
TURBT

The results of these tests can show the stage/extend of your cancer, and if the cancer has been caused by certain changes in your genes.

This will also help your specialist team decide what treatment you need. More about Bladder cancer - Diagnosis - NHS

Macmillan information: A - Z Diagnostic tests

What treatment are available?

The treatment options for bladder cancer largely depend on how advanced the cancer is.

Treatments usually differ between early stage, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and more advanced muscle-invasive bladder cancer

You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines.

Treatments are offered in collaboration with St George’s Hospital University NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Your specialist treatment team will:

explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
help you to manage the side effects of treatment

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

More about Bladder cancer - Treatment - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Macmillan information: Making treatment decisions

Macmillan information: A - Z treatments - drugs

Macmillan information: After Treatment

Personalised Cancer Care

Personalised cancer care allows you to take an active role in the way your care is planned and delivered by identifying your concerns and support needs. It puts you in control of your care, with help from your specialist cancer team.

There are lots of things you can do to look after your own health during and after cancer treatment. Some of this can be done without the involvement of your clinical team, such as physical activity and healthy eating.

Here are the key elements of personalised care for our cancer patients:
Personalised Assessment and Care Planning
Access to health and wellbeing information and support
End of treatment summaries to support you with understanding and managing impacts of cancer—also shared with your GP so they can also support you.
Stratified Follow up when you have finished treatment or are living with cancer.

Read the Personalised Cancer Care Guide for newly diagnosed patients at Croydon Health Services.

Also available in Arabic , Bengali , Bulgarian , French , Gujarati , Polish , Portuguese , Punjabi , Romanian , Somali , Spanish , Tamil , Urdu.