ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the health care team to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

Talking often with the health care team is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you. You may want to print this list and bring it to your next appointment. It may also be helpful to ask a family member or friend to come with you to appointments to help take notes.

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

• What type of bladder cancer do I have?

• Is it non-invasive or invasive? What does this mean?

• If the cancer is invasive, does it involve the muscle?

• Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

• What is the stage of my cancer? What does this mean?

• What is the grade? What does this mean?

• Should I seek a second opinion?

• Should I seek genetic counseling and/or testing?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment and managing side effects

• How soon do I need to start treatment?

• What are my treatment options?

• What clinical trials are available for me? Where are they located, and how do I find out more about them?

• What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

• What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the cancer, help me feel better, or both?

• What are the possible side effects of each treatment, both in the short term and the long term?

• Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?

• Who will be leading my overall treatment?

• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

• Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long? How can sexual side effects that occur be managed?

• Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?

• If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?

• If I have questions or problems, who should I call?

Questions to ask about having surgery

• What type of surgery will I have?

• How many procedures of this type has the surgeon done?

• Will my entire bladder be removed?

• Do you have experience making urinary reservoirs? Can I have this type of surgery?

• How long will the operation take?

• How long will I be in the hospital?

• Can you describe what my recovery from surgery will be like?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term side effects of having this surgery?

• How will the surgery affect my ability to urinate?

• Will I need to use a catheter?

• Will I need to have a urostomy? If so, how do I care for my urostomy?

• If I have a neobladder, how will I know when I need to empty it?

Questions to ask about having therapy using medications

• What type of medication do you recommend?

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• How will it be delivered? Through an IV, a catheter, or a pill?

• How long will it take to give this treatment?

• Will I receive this treatment at a hospital or clinic? Or will I take it at home?

• How can I prepare for this treatment?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of this type of chemotherapy?

• What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

Questions to ask about having radiation therapy

• What type of radiation therapy do you recommended?

• What is the goal of radiation therapy?

• How long will it take to give radiation therapy?

• What side effects can I expect during treatment?

• Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

• What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

• What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

• What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

• What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the cancer treatment I received?

• What follow-up tests will I need, and how often will those tests be needed?

• How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my personal records?

• Who will be leading my follow-up care?

• What survivorship support services are available to me? To my family?

The next section in this guide is Additional Resources. It offers more resources on this website that may be helpful to you. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.