Patient Experience
The Urology Unit provides a multidisciplinary service that focuses on the diagnosis and management of patients with prostate, kidney, bladder, testicular and penile cancer. The unit has a strong commitment to improving patient quality of care and outcomes through research involving urological cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Bladder cancer occurs when abnormal cells appear in the lining of your bladder. Bladder cancer can grow in different ways. The most common type of bladder cancer is transitional cell cancer, which appears as a small growth in the lining of your bladder. This cancer is usually superficial and does not spread to other areas of the body. Occasionally, transitional cell cancers are invasive and can grow deeply into the wall of the bladder and nearby tissue. These are more likely to spread to other areas of the body.
Symptoms of bladder cancer are similar to symptoms of other conditions such as infection or stones in the bladder or kidney. A common symptom is blood in the urine.
There are a range of tests to check for bladder cancer. You may need to have one or more of the following tests: blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound scan, CT scan or cystoscopy (a test that allows your doctor to look at the interior lining of the bladder and the urethra) and biopsy.
You will be cared for by a team of people who are experts in the different aspects of your treatment. The multidisciplinary team includes:
Consultant Urologists, surgeons who specialise in urological surgery:
Urology Clinical Nurse Specialists, who help to facilitate your care while supporting you and your family:
Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Candidate), Prostate Cancer
Urology Cancer Data Manager
Radiation Oncologists, who specialise in radiotherapy:
Consultant Oncologist, who specialises in chemotherapy treatments:
You may also meet other members of our team, which includes junior doctors, specialist cancer nurse coordinators, X-ray staff, phlebotomy staff and secretarial personnel.
The Irish Cancer Society has a Daffodil Centre located on the ground floor of the hospital. The aim of the centre is to provide practical, psychological or financial support and information to anyone who is or has been affected by cancer.
Phone: (01) 616 5604
Email: daffodilcentrestjames@irishcancer.ie
Men Against Cancer (MAC) is a support group for men with prostate cancer. MAC provides men and their relatives and friends with information, advice and emotional support from time of diagnosis for as long as needed.
Freefone: 1800 200 700
Email: support@irishcancer.ie
Website www.cancer.ie
ARC House is located at 559 South Circular Road, close to the Rialto exit of the hospital. ARC cancer centre provides support and information for people affected by cancer. ARC also run courses specifically for men living with prostate cancer.
Phone: (01) 707 8880
Email: info@arccancersupport.ie
Website: www.arccancersupport.ie
Other Resources
The following are websites of organisations offering information relating to the treatment and management of cancer:
Irish Cancer Society: www.cancer.ie
Action Cancer: www.actioncancer.org
Cancer Network Buddies: www.cancerbuddiesnetwork.org
Macmillan Cancer Support (UK): www.macmillan.org.uk
Royal Marsden Hospital Foundation NHS Trust: www.royalmarsden.org
Mayo Clinic (U.S.): www.mayoclinic.com