Program Modules
Introduction to Bladder Cancer and Primary Treatment Options
Managing the Impact of Bladder Cancer Treatments on Sexual Function and Intimacy
Movement & Exercise for Bladder Cancer Patients
Radical cystectomy, or bladder removal surgery, is the standard treatment for invasive bladder cancer, but comes with risks and challenges. If this surgery is recommended, join our virtual or live educational session to learn about bladder cancer, treatment options, and decision-making.
Developed by physicians, this 2-hour session helps newly diagnosed patients and their families understand treatment options, prepare for surgery, and make informed decisions. It’s led by a urologist and radiation oncologist, covering diagnosis, treatments, and side effects.
Living with bladder cancer can impact sexuality, sexual function, and relationships. Treatments may cause changes that affect quality of life for patients and partners, influencing libido, orgasm, and physical function differently in men and women.
To address these challenges, we offer a 60-minute group session led by Sexual Health Clinicians, providing strategies to manage sexual side effects. Patients and partners can also schedule confidential appointments to create personalized plans for post-treatment sexual adjustment.
Staying active is crucial for bladder cancer patients before and after treatment. For those preparing for surgery or undergoing trimodal therapy, physical activity can strengthen your body, reduce stress, and improve surgical outcomes. Post-treatment, it helps to regain strength, reduce fatigue, and manage side effects like muscle loss, weight changes, and mood swings.
Our clinic offers personalized exercise plans with an Exercise Physiologist. Start with a group education session to learn about the benefits and set goals, followed by follow-up appointments at 3, 6, and 12 months to track progress and adjust your plan.
Nutrition for
Bladder Cancer Patients
Wound, Ostomy & Continence
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Patients with Neo-Bladder and Bowel Management after Radical Cystectomy
Good nutrition is crucial for bladder cancer patients before and after treatment, especially when paired with physical exercise. A well-planned diet helps maintain strength, prevent muscle loss, support healing, and reduce complications. Following surgery, dietary guidelines are key to ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs for recovery.
We provide online nutrition resources, monthly 1.5-hour virtual group sessions, and one-on-one appointments with a Registered Dietitian. These services are tailored to help you meet your nutrition goals and support your recovery journey.
After bladder cancer surgery, proper stoma care and continence management are vital for recovery. Our program offers comprehensive support through registered Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care Nurses (WOCN). Services include pre-operative group education sessions on urinary diversion types, such as ostomy care and neobladder management, to help you prepare for surgery. Patients from Vancouver General Hospital can also access one-on-one sessions with a WOCN to learn about ostomy appliances, self-catheterization, and care for neobladders or Indiana pouches.
Our team will then guide you in catheter removal, self-catheterization, and irrigation, providing ongoing support after you return home.
If you choose a neobladder, managing urinary function is key to recovery. This includes bladder training, self-catheterization, and irrigation. Some patients may experience urinary incontinence as their body adjusts, with nighttime leakage being more common. Pelvic floor exercises, or “Kegels”, can strengthen muscles and improve continence.
We have a pre-recorded education session presented by a pelvic floor physiotherapist. If incontinence persists beyond 12 weeks post-surgery, you can access three complimentary one-on-one appointments. These sessions focus on proper pelvic floor muscle control, using biofeedback to reduce leakage and manage urgency.
Counselling Services
Metastatic Disease Management
A cancer diagnosis can often lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, with between 35-45% of patients experiencing significant emotional distress. Bladder cancer patients are particularly at risk, with depression and anxiety affecting between 5-23% before surgery and up to 80% post-cystectomy. Emotional and practical support is crucial during this time.
Peer support groups and counselling can ease the psychological impact of cancer, improve self-awareness, and enhance communication. If you or your partner feel overwhelmed by a bladder cancer diagnosis or treatment, our program offers complimentary, confidential counselling sessions with a clinical counsellor to provide the support you need.
Module coming soon
CONTACT
Phone: 604-875-4241 | Phone (toll-free): 844-483-1449
Fax: 604-914-3003
Email: bcsc@vch.ca
