Living with bladder cancer
Getting practical and emotional support can help you to cope with a diagnosis of bladder cancer. It can also help you with life during and after treatment. This section includes information on passing urine after treatment, sex and relationships, and helpful websites and books.
Coping and support when you have bladder cancer
Coping with bladder cancer can be difficult. There are things you can do and people who can help you to cope.
Living with a urostomy, urine pouch or new bladder
After surgery to remove your bladder, you will learn to adapt to a new way of passing urine. This can affect your day to day life.
Looking after your urostomy
After having a urostomy, you pass urine through an opening (stoma) in your tummy. You wear a bag at all times to catch the urine.
Looking after your internal urine pouch
A continent urinary diversion is a way to pass urine after surgery to remove your bladder. Your surgeon makes an internal pouch to hold your urine.
Looking after your new bladder
After having a new bladder, you pass urine through your urethra, as you did before. But it feels different and you have to learn how to push out the urine.
Sex and relationships after bladder cancer treatment
Bladder cancer and its treatment can affect your sex life and relationships. There are some ways to cope with this.
Support at home for you and your family
You might need some care and support at home due to bladder cancer or its treatment.
Bladder cancer resources and support organisations
There are organisations, support groups, videos and books to help you cope with bladder cancer and treatment.