Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer, one of the most common forms of the disease, occurs more often in men than in women and newly affects more than half a million people each year.

Expert Bladder Cancer Care Close to Home

When you get bladder cancer care at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center, you and your multidisciplinary team of cancer experts collaborate to develop an evidence-based plan that ensures you receive the latest advances and options for treating the physical, mental and emotional challenges you face.

Next-Day or Same-Week Appointments

Ask your doctor for a referral to Stephenson Cancer Center or contact us directly. Get a second opinion or consultation about your bladder condition from an OU Health urologic cancer specialist.

Call 405-271-4088 for a next-day or same-week appointment that works best for you.

Bladder Cancer Signs & Symptoms

Because early stages of bladder cancer may not show any symptoms, regular checkups with your doctor can help you prevent this condition. Tell your doctor if you experience signs or symptoms such as blood in urine and frequent need to urinate, pain when urinating, pelvic pain or back pain. Because other health conditions cause the same symptoms, get a complete examination and diagnosis from your doctor.

Expert Testing & Treatment for Bladder Cancer

As you work with your OU Health bladder cancer care team, you and the urologic oncologists at Stephenson Cancer Center may combine medical and surgical methods for diagnosis and treatment to ensure you receive the best care for your specific situation. You may take advantage of a wide range of tests, treatments and services in programs for both non-invasive and invasive types of bladder cancer.

Non-Invasive (Superficial) Bladder Cancer Program

• Intravesical treatment program – Medication injected directly into the bladder using BCG immunotherapy and novel chemotherapy agents
• Blue light fluorescence cystoscopy – Enhanced testing and detection of bladder cancer, available at several of our community-based office locations
• Genetic testing, molecular diagnosis – Supports personalized treatment choices
• Investigational therapies – Options from clinical trials not yet widely available

Invasive Bladder Cancer Program

• Chemotherapy – Uses special medications to reduce or eliminate cancer cells
• Continent urinary diversion – Avoids the need for external collection device or stoma with bladder removal
• Cystectomy – Bladder removal with minimally invasive or robotic-assisted procedures that may help reduce blood loss and pain, while improving the potential for faster recovery
• Genetic testing, molecular diagnosis – Supports personalized treatment choices
• Immunotherapy – Uses special medications that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer
• Investigational therapies – Options from clinical trials not yet widely available
• Ileal conduit urinary diversion – Connects one end of the tube that brings urine from the kidneys (called ureters) to the bladder through a pouch.
• Neobladder urinary diversion – Avoids the need for external collection device or stoma with bladder removal by creating a new bladder from intestines
• Radiation therapy – Uses internal (brachytherapy) or external radiation treatments to reduce or eliminate cancer cells
• Robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery – Bladder removal with procedures that may reduce blood loss and pain and allow for faster recovery

Cancer Surgery at OU Health

Learn more about cancer surgery at Stephenson Cancer Center and explore other surgery services at OU Health.

Cancer Navigation Services

Throughout your journey at Stephenson Cancer Center, your care team includes a nurse navigator, a specially trained registered nurse (RN) who acts as your personal advocate and adds an extra layer of support. Learn more about cancer navigation services.

Supportive Care Services

You also gain access to extensive supportive care services, such as genetic counseling, nutritional therapy, support groups, palliative care, cancer education workshops, and symptom and pain management. And you’ll find all your cancer-related services in a bright, welcoming, up-to-date facility close to home and designed for your comfort and convenience.

Clinical Trials for Advanced Treatment

Ask your cancer doctor or care team if you qualify for experimental treatments in clinical trials coordinated through OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, one of only 71 healthcare facilities in the nation identified as a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center and a member of the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). At Stephenson, you benefit from access to the latest therapies and more cancer clinical trials than anywhere else in Oklahoma.

Multidisciplinary Cancer Care Team

From your first contact with Stephenson Cancer Center, you become a vital part of our multidisciplinary team approach that brings you together with cancer specialists, such as cancer surgeons, urologic oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, orthopedists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and others. You benefit from their training across disciplines that ensures you receive the best care for your particular condition.

You’ll work with the largest and most comprehensive team of experienced healthcare professionals in the region who hold advanced education and fellowship training, which means they provide you with the highest level of care. Your team also includes advanced practice providers, oncology nurses and supportive care specialists who assist you throughout your journey from evaluation and diagnosis to treatment, survivorship and beyond.