Surgery for muscle invasive bladder cancer

A cystectomy is an operation to remove all or part of your bladder. There are different types of operation.

A urostomy means that you have a bag outside your body to collect your urine. It is also called an ileal conduit.

Your surgeon makes an internal pouch to hold your urine, and a new opening (stoma) on your tummy. You pass a thin tube (catheter) into the stoma to pass urine and you don't have to wear a bag.

Bladder reconstruction is when a new bladder (neobladder) is made from a piece of your bowel. After surgery you continue to pass urine through your urethra.

Before your operation, you have tests to check your fitness and you meet members of your treatment team.

On the day of your operation, you need to do things including stopping eating for a few hours.

You will have a few tubes in place when you wake up, such as a drip, wound drain and catheter. You will be in hospital for around 1 or 2 weeks.

There is a risk of problems or complications after any operation. Some of the possible problems depend on which type of urinary diversion you have.