Bladder cancer

Care team

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, we surround you with experts who focus completely on cancer care. A handful of people make up the core of your care team. You will have one or more oncologists who specialize in medicine-based treatments, radiation therapy or surgery for bladder cancer and other urinary tract cancers. At some visits, you will see an advanced practice provider who works closely with your doctor. A patient care coordinator will schedule your visits.

Others join your team based on your personal needs. For example, if you need to have your bladder removed, your surgeon will make a new path for urine to leave your body. Sometimes this means making an opening (stoma) in your abdomen so urine can drain. We have a registered nurse with special training (stomal therapist) who will teach you how to take care of your stoma and help prevent or solve any issues that might arise.

Supportive care providers are also here to help. You may see Fred Hutch dietitians, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, genetic counselors, financial experts and others. All of them specialize in caring for and supporting people during and after cancer.

Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.

Find Care Team Profiles

Meet the caring, dedicated people who take care of you and your family at Fred Hutch.

What each team member does

Advanced practice provider (APP)

These health care professionals work closely with your doctor in the clinic. There are two types: physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They help provide and coordinate your treatment and can see you without your doctor. They also help manage the effects of your disease and treatment.

Nurse practitioner A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families. A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. Nurse practitioners are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families, based on a practice agreement with a physician. Physician assistant A health professional who is licensed to do certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician. A health professional who is licensed to do certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician. A physician assistant may take medical histories, do physical exams, take blood and urine samples, care for wounds and give injections and immunizations.

Infusion nurse

Infusion nurses are registered nurses (RN) who specialize in giving patients intravenous (IV) medications and therapies, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and antibiotic infusions. They also check on patients during infusions, help keep patients comfortable and can respond to any issues that may come up.

Medical oncologist

This doctor oversees your medicine-based treatments, like chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Your medical oncologist:

Sees you during your first visit if we expect anti-cancer medicines to be part of your care.
Explains what your diagnosis means and answers your questions.
Recommends medicines, doses, schedules and sequences to match your exact needs. They also talk with you about the goals, benefits and risks.
Sees you on a regular schedule to check how your cancer responds to treatment and how you are doing overall.
Offers you ways to prevent, recognize, relieve and cope with potential side effects of treatment, like medicine to help with nausea.
Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Immunotherapy A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. A therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. Some immunotherapies only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and some monoclonal antibodies. Medical oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer in adults using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer in adults using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy. A medical oncologist is often the main health care provider for someone who has cancer. A medical oncologist also gives supportive care and may coordinate treatment given by other specialists. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores. Targeted therapy A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells while causing less harm to normal cells. A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells while causing less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells, or they deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.

Nurse navigator

They work closely with you and your doctor to plan your appointments and coordinate your care. Navigators also help you understand our system, including where and how to get the care you need. They can help with answering your questions and addressing any concerns that come up.

Patient care coordinator

Your patient care coordinator works closely with you and your doctor. They will schedule your appointments.

Radiation oncologist

This doctor treats cancer with radiation. They prescribe and manage this part of your care if you need it. Working with a radiation oncology team, they plan and deliver your treatments.

Your radiation oncologist:

Sees you during your first visit if we expect radiation therapy to be part of your care.
Explains, along with other team members, what your diagnosis and stage mean.
Recommends radiation therapy to match your case. They decide the type, dose, area to be treated and schedule. They also talk with you about the goals, benefits and risks.
Works behind the scenes with other radiation experts. These experts make sure you get the right dose in the right places (dosimetrist). They also maintain the equipment that is used (medical physicist).
Answers your questions about radiation therapy, like why you need it and what to expect.
Sees you on a regular schedule during radiation therapy to check how your cancer responds and how you are doing overall.
Offers you ways to prevent, recognize, relieve and cope with possible side effects of treatment.
Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment.

Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation. Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores. Stage The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Radiation therapist

This specialist positions you each time you come in for radiation treatment. This makes sure that your treatment goes to the right places on your body. They also operate the machines that deliver the radiation.

Registered nurse (RN)

Your nurses manage your care with your doctors. They also help with procedures and treatments. Nurses are resources for you and your caregiver. They answer questions and help with a wide range of topics, like how to cope with side effects or get other services you need at Fred Hutch.

Caregiver A person who gives care to people who need help, such as children, older people or patients who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. A person who gives care to people who need help taking care of themselves, such as children, older people or patients who have chronic illnesses or disabilities. Caregivers may be health professionals, family members, friends, social workers or members of the clergy. They may give care at home, in a hospital or in another health care setting. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores.

Supportive care services

Many types of supportive care team members are here to help you and your family. They include dietitians, physical therapists, pain medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, spiritual health staff, palliative care specialists, naturopaths and acupuncturists.

Supportive Care Services

Urologic oncologist

This doctor does surgery to remove as much of your cancer as possible, along with a margin of healthy tissue around the cancer. In some cases, this means removing your bladder and possibly nearby organs.

Your urologic oncologist:

Sees you during your first visit if we expect surgery to be part of your care.
Explains, along with other team members, what your diagnosis and stage mean.
Recommends surgery to match your exact case. They explain your surgical options. They also talk with you about the goals, benefits and risks.
Answers your questions about surgery, like why you need it and what to expect.
Does your surgery, along with a team that includes an anesthesiologist and nurses.
Offers you ways to prevent, recognize, relieve and cope with possible side effects of surgery.
Works with the rest of your care team if you need other types of treatment

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