Bladder need not to be removed in all the cases of Bladder Cancer. Sometimes a bladder preserving surgery (Partial Cystectomy) can be done even in advanced cases.

For muscle invasive bladder cancers (aggressive forms of bladder cancer) bladder has to be removed to prevent the spread of tumour outside the bladder and to save the patient’s life. It’s a difficult task to counsel the patient about the need of removal of bladder (Radical Cystectomy) and the need of creating alternative route of urine diversion. Many people don’t accept the altered body image associated with the need of putting a stoma bag (Urine collection bag) on the abdomen wall. With the neobladder (artificial bladder) now many people are accepting this surgery. However, neo bladder is a complex surgery and it requires a lot of counselling, training and behavioral changes for the patients.

In some patient’s alternative options are, complete TURBT (Endoscopic removal of the tumour) followed by chemo therapy and radiation therapy all combined are an option. However, they have their own limitations and challenges.

In some cases, in the tumour size and location in the bladder are favorable and no other lesson of the bladder are seen and the patient is adequately preparing for close surveillance then complete surgical removal of the tumor with a margin of normal bladder tissue (Partial cystectomy) may be an option.

Mrs. Bhaswati Pal Maity, a 37 years old young lady from Kakdwip, presented with passing of blood in urine (hematuria) 5 months back. A large abnormal tumor was found in her urinary bladder on ultrasound & CT scan. In this kind of the cases, mostly bladder has to be removed completely and a new passage of urine needs to be created.

But luckily, in that case we are able to remove only the affected part of the bladder which is known as partial cystectomy. The tumor and some adjoining parts of the normal bladder tissues were removed and rests of the bladder was reconstructed.

The surgery went smooth and she was discharged from hospital within 3 days after completion of the surgery. On final biopsy report was acceptable and tumour was completely removed. She is on regular follow up after that. The latest CT scan report and check cystoscopy confirmed that now she is completely cancer free and having normal functioning bladder.

Long term follow up is crucial for this kind of patients.

In selected cases organ preserving surgery can be a normal cancer free life. Don’t lose hope, discuss all the options with your doctor.