Living with Urothelial Bladder Cancer

Treating bladder cancer takes a toll

UBC treatment can be intense and draining for patients, explained Sarah Psutka, M.D., a urologic oncologist and associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. It can include everything from repeated minor surgeries to chemotherapy, immunotherapy and removal of the bladder (called a cystectomy).

“On top of that, there’s a [financial burden] associated with these frequent office visits and procedures,” Psutka said. In addition to covering the cost of treatment itself, many patients — especially those who must travel to receive care — also pay indirectly. “It’s time off work, it’s time for their loved ones who are traveling with them off work.”

Bladder cancer and mental health

The challenges of bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment can take a heavy toll on emotional well-being. “It’s a lot for patients to go through,” Psutka said. “And that has major implications for anxiety, depression, worry, treatment-associated burden and, ultimately, mental health.”

One of the many reasons people with bladder cancer may face mental health issues has to do with the possibility their cancer will come back.

The five-year bladder cancer survival rate is 77%, meaning about 8 in 10 people live for at least five years after their diagnosis. But bladder cancer is more likely to come back than any other type of cancer. Even after successful treatment, the rate of recurrence is between 50% and 80%. People with bladder cancer are also at increased risk of getting certain types of new cancers (called second cancers) later.

This means many bladder cancer survivors may feel like they’re walking around under a dark cloud of anxiety and fear about their cancer coming back.

In one survey of nearly 600 people living with bladder cancer, about 6 out of 10 said they feel anxious about their cancer returning, and about 4 out of 5 said they’ve searched “mental health and bladder cancer” online.

Because so many women are also caretakers, women with bladder cancer may also experience the special kind of anxiety that comes from worrying about who will look after their loved ones if something happens to them.

“I’m the sole parent of three young adults, and I help my mom who’s newly diagnosed with dementia,” Roy said. “I joke with my family about how I can’t die.”

How mental health can affect bladder cancer treatment

Although mental health is under-studied in relation to bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment, Psutka has seen the ways a patient’s mental well-being can affect how well they handle treatment.

“We do know that mental health has major implications for how patients tolerate therapy,” she said, adding that a patient’s level of stamina and their ability to bounce back can impact their quality of life through treatment and beyond.

“I think that it’s probably an area that warrants a lot more research and attention from a research perspective,” Psutka said. “And it’s one of the reasons why we really have to pay close attention to our patients’ mental health as they’re going through therapy and try to support that.”

Working through bladder cancer treatment

Keeping up with work while going through cancer treatment can be incredibly stressful — especially if you feel like you don’t have a choice.

With her whole family depending on her job for health insurance, Roy has been under pressure to keep working while having bladder cancer treatment. Even though she’s able to do much of her job at home, it isn’t easy to keep up.

“There’s this feeling of, ‘I’m the sole carrier of my insurance, so I better not get real sick,” Roy said. “I have a lot of fear and anxiety around that.”

Navigating relationships during bladder cancer treatment

For people with bladder cancer, navigating romantic relationships can be a challenge. Roy had just started seeing someone new when she was diagnosed. They went from spending their weekends at music festivals to spending them at the cancer treatment center.

“We were having fun,” Roy said. “Things got serious real quick.”

Insecurity about body changes during and after treatment can affect other kinds of relationships, too. People with bladder cancer may withdraw from their friends and turn down social invitations in favor of staying at home.

Advocating for yourself and connecting with others

Having learned at a young age the importance of advocating for your own healthcare, Roy — who hosts a podcast called “Life Possible with a Disability” about navigating life with a disability — understands the importance of finding a healthcare provider who will listen to you.

“Find a physician who is invested in your well-being,” she said. “Because it really is about your relationship with that individual physician and whether or not you feel comfortable with what they’re saying to you.”

Roy is also a big believer in leaning on others for support. “If people offer to help you, take them up on it,” she said. She also encourages women living with bladder cancer to reach out to organizations such as the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network that can connect them with support groups and other resources.

“Speaking to other people who have gone through the same experience is really helpful,” Roy said.

Resources

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

This resource was created with support from Merck.