Bladder Cancer Care

Open pelvic lymphadenectomy can be used to prevent the accumulation of lymphatic fluid (lymphedema) that leads to swelling. Two such procedures are reverse lymphatic mapping, which allows surgeons to identify lymph nodes that can be preserved during surgery, and lymphovenous bypass surgery, which enables surgeons to reestablish lymphatic drainage.

Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy involves the surgical removal through a laparoscope of groups of lymph nodes in the pelvic area and near the aorta. The tissue is then tested to determine whether cancer cells are present.

Robotic pelvic lymphadenectomy involves the surgical removal of groups of lymph nodes in the pelvic area and near the aorta. The surgeon uses a control panel to guide a small robotic arm. The tissue is then tested to determine whether cancer cells are present.

Robotic-assisted surgery allows for better and more controlled access, giving the surgeon a clear and magnified view of the surgical area. It allows them to use smaller instruments and move with greater precision in a minimally invasive fashion, all of which results in a less traumatic experience and quicker recovery for the patient.

This advanced procedure requires a sophisticated facility and equipment, along with highly specialized physicians. It is available at some Providence locations.

Open radical cystectomy is surgical removal of the bladder, lymph nodes and other organs in the pelvic area.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy is surgery that uses a laparoscope to remove the bladder, lymph nodes and other organs in the pelvic area.

Robotic radical cystectomy is robotic-assisted surgery to remove the bladder, lymph nodes and other organs in the pelvic area.

The use of robotic instruments gives the surgeon a clear and magnified view of the surgical area, allowing them to move with greater precision. This results in a less traumatic experience and quicker recovery for the patient.

This advanced procedure requires a sophisticated facility and equipment – typically the da Vinci robotic surgical system – along with highly specialized physicians. It is available at some Providence locations.

Transurethral resection (TUR)  is a surgical procedure to remove tissue from an enlarged prostate, which may help with urine flow. The surgeon inserts an instrument called a resectoscope into the urethra through the tip of the penis.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are advanced types of radiation therapies. IMRT uses advanced technology to manipulate the radiation beams to conform to the shape of a tumor. VMAT is a subtype of IMRT in which the machine actively delivers radiation beams while moving in an arc around the patient.

This method of radiation delivery offers next-generation capabilities. The arc-based therapy provided via VMAT delivers high doses of radiation to more focused areas, reducing side effects and the overall treatment time for the patient. This treatment is particularly effective at treating several types of cancer while at the same time reducing toxicity and harm to vital organs.

This procedure is one of several new ways to deliver radiation therapy. It requires a sophisticated facility and equipment, along with highly specialized physicians. It is available at some Providence locations.

Stereotactic radiation (SABR/SBRT) is a group of treatments that includes stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and stereotactic ablative radiation (SABR) – both of which are adaptations of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) – for the treatment of targets in the body, but outside the brain. Similar to SRS, these techniques deliver very high doses of radiation using sophisticated motion management and patient immobilization techniques.

The number of radiation treatments is minimal and may range from one to five treatments delivered over one to two weeks.

This procedure is one of several new ways to deliver radiation therapy. It requires a sophisticated facility and equipment, along with highly specialized physicians. It is available at some Providence locations.

Surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT/SIGRT) is an approach to radiation targeting that offers real-time beam guidance from face and body surface-recognition systems.

This treatment is particularly effective at treating several types of cancer while at the same time reducing toxicity and harm to vital organs, thus minimizing side effects.

This advanced procedure requires a sophisticated facility and equipment, along with highly specialized physicians. It is available at some Providence locations.

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) is a radiation planning and treatment technique in which three-dimensional (3D) imaging enables improved targeting for radiation treatment. 3D planning with CT imaging makes radiation treatment much more conformal, or tailored to the target.