Keeping Your Bladder: Understanding the Risks and Rewards

Can patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer safely keep their bladders after successful treatment? And does having "no evidence of disease" really mean the cancer is gone? In this episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host and bladder cancer survivor Rick Bangs welcomes back renowned bladder cancer expert Dr. Ashish Kamat of MD Anderson Cancer Center to explore one of the most important decisions patients may face: bladder removal or bladder preservation. Dr. Kamat explains how newer treatments are improving survival, what doctors can—and cannot—determine about whether cancer remains and the potential risks and benefits of preserving the bladder. He also discusses why ongoing monitoring is essential and what patients should ask their medical teams before making treatment decisions. If you or someone you love is facing bladder cancer treatment, this conversation offers valuable insights to help you understand your options and make informed decisions.

Bladder cancer treatment can change much more than a person's physical health — it can profoundly affect sexuality, intimacy, body image and relationships. In this candid and informative episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host and bladder cancer survivor Rick Bangs talks with Mary Dunn, a certified adult nurse practitioner about a topic patients and partners may find difficult to discuss: sex after bladder cancer.  Mary explains how bladder cancer and its treatments can affect sexual health for both men and women, offers practical strategies for managing common challenges and reviews treatment options that can help. Just as importantly, she explores intimacy beyond sex and encourages patients to make sexual health part of the conversation with their healthcare teams. Listener discretion advised: This episode contains explicit language and frank discussions of sexual health, sexual function and anatomy that may not be appropriate for all listeners.

In this eye-opening episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, brought to you by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, host Rick Bangs sits down with Todd Davey of Ferring Pharmaceuticals to pull back the curtain on something most patients never hear about: market access. What actually happens between a breakthrough therapy and the moment a patient can affordably receive it? Todd walks listeners through the strategy, value demonstration, and launch planning that determine whether innovative bladder cancer treatments—like ADSTILADRIN®—are covered by insurance and accessible without crushing out-of-pocket costs. It's a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how science, economics, and patient advocacy intersect—and why getting this right can mean fewer barriers, less financial stress, and more options for families facing bladder cancer. If you've ever wondered how new treatments move from the lab to real life, this episode will give you clarity—and a new appreciation for the complex work that helps turn innovation into access.

For women facing radical cystectomy, removing the bladder doesn't always have to mean removing reproductive organs as well. In this episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs talks with Cleveland Clinic urologic oncologist Dr. Rebecca Campbell about organ-sparing radical cystectomy and how, for carefully selected patients, surgeons may be able to preserve the vagina, uterus and ovaries while still prioritizing effective cancer treatment. Dr. Campbell explains who may be a candidate, how organ sparing can help protect sexual function, hormonal health, continence and overall quality of life and why women should feel empowered to ask their surgeon about their options—or seek a second opinion if those options aren't discussed. It's an important conversation about looking beyond bladder removal to the life a patient wants to live after treatment.

In this fascinating episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs sits down with renowned bladder cancer expert Dr. Robert Svatek to discuss how the field has been transformed over the past 15 years—and where it's headed next. Dr. Svatek reflects on his journey from academic surgeon and researcher to Vice President of Clinical Development at CG Oncology, sharing behind-the-scenes insights into clinical trials, emerging immunotherapies and the collaborative effort required to bring promising new treatments from the laboratory to patients. Whether you're a patient, caregiver, advocate or healthcare professional, this conversation offers an inspiring look at the remarkable progress being made in bladder cancer research while acknowledging the challenges that remain. You'll also hear how patient participation in clinical trials is driving innovation and why experts are more optimistic than ever about the future of bladder cancer care.

Whether you're facing bladder removal surgery or supporting someone who is, choosing the right urinary diversion can feel overwhelming. In this episode, urologic oncologist Dr. Christine Ibilibor separates fact from fiction, explains the pros and cons of the different diversion options and addresses the unique concerns women often face, from body image and intimacy to recovery and quality of life. Packed with practical advice and reassuring insights, this conversation will help patients feel more informed and more confident when making one of the most important decisions in bladder cancer care.

If you're facing bladder removal surgery, choosing a urinary diversion may be one of the most important decisions you'll ever make—and one of the hardest to understand. In this episode, reconstructive urologist Dr. Divya Ajay shares how real patient experiences inspired a first-of-its-kind decision tool that helps people compare diversion options, set realistic expectations and better prepare for life after surgery. From intimacy and travel to recovery, aging and day-to-day living, this conversation offers practical guidance that can help patients feel more informed, more confident and more in control of their treatment journey. View and download a urinary diversion decision guide.

For patients facing recurrent high-grade non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, one of the hardest decisions is whether to remove the bladder or pursue bladder-sparing treatment. In this eye-opening episode, leading bladder cancer expert Angela Smith shares the surprising results of the landmark CISTO study—the first major patient-centered research effort to compare these two approaches from the patient's perspective. Discover why some outcomes favored bladder preservation, why others unexpectedly favored radical cystectomy and how these findings are reshaping conversations between patients and their doctors. If you or a loved one are weighing treatment options, this episode offers powerful insights that could help you make one of the most important decisions of your cancer journey.

Feeling overwhelmed after a bladder cancer diagnosis? Wondering where to turn for trusted information, emotional support, or practical guidance? In this episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host Rick Bangs sits down with BCAN's Director of Education and Advocacy, Patricia Rios, for an inside look at the many free resources designed to help patients, caregivers and families navigate bladder cancer with more confidence and less fear. From one-on-one peer support and patient summits to clinical trial tools, webinars, caregiver resources, support groups, survivorship planning, and even BCAN's mobile app, Patricia shares how BCAN helps people feel informed, empowered, and—most importantly—not alone. Whether you're newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or looking for new ways to connect and advocate, this episode offers practical tools, hope, and a roadmap to the bladder cancer community.

In this episode of Bladder Cancer Matters, host and survivor Rick Bangs sits down with ImmunityBio's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bobby Reddy, for a fascinating, hopeful look at the future of bladder cancer treatment. They unpack how next-generation immunotherapies like ANKTIVA—paired with innovative approaches to BCG—are reshaping care for patients, especially those with limited options, while also tackling real-world challenges like ongoing BCG shortages. Dr. Reddy breaks down the science in a way that's accessible, highlighting how activating the body's own immune system could lead to longer-lasting responses and even help patients avoid more invasive treatments. Tune in to this conversation about progress and possibility.