Bladder
Cancer Center of Excellence: Your Trusted
Partner in Bladder Cancer Care
When
you refer a bladder cancer patient to UNC Cancer
Care, you offer choices.
The
experience of one of the largest robotic and
minimally-invasive surgical teams available
anywhere allows our physicians to select the
right surgical approach for each patient at the
right time. As one site for a large
outcomes trial comparing robotic and open
surgery, UNC offers the confidence that comes
with extensive surgical experience. Patients are
offered a range of urinary diversion options to
preserve quality of life.
Our
center of excellence is distinguished by the
presence of multiple medical oncologists with
specific interest and experience in bladder
cancer, as well as their own focused basic and
clinical research programs. In addition to
neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, we are continually
working to improve care through cancer genetics
based approaches to treatment, the introduction
of novel therapies and innovative clinical
trials.
With
expertise in bladder-sparing treatment protocols
using chemotherapy and radiation therapy, we can
offer many patients options that preserve
quality of life without negatively impacting
outcomes or limiting future decisions in the
event of recurrence.
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Raj
Pruthi, MD, chief of the division of urology and
co-director of the multidisciplinary urologic
oncology program talks about UNC's resources for
treating complex cases. Watch
video. |
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Top
Rankings for Patient
Satisfaction
You
can refer to us with confidence. UNC Health Care
scores highest in patient satisfaction among all
academic medical centers nationwide that
participate in the University HealthSystem
Consortium in 2009–
2010. In addition, UNC’s
urologic services rank in the 99th percentile
nationally for patient satisfaction in the Press
Ganey survey for fiscal year
2011.
Patients
referred to the UNC Bladder Cancer Center of
Excellence are seen by a multidisciplinary team
of clinicians. The visit includes a formal UNC
evaluation of prior pathology, imaging, and
outside medical records. The multidisciplinary
team provides a consensus opinion regarding the
best treatment plan for the individual patient.
Dedicated program coordinators and nurse
navigators guide the complex care delivered to
our patients by facilitating information intake,
scheduling all tests and follow-up visits, and
ensuring clear communication to referring health
care providers.
Refer
a patient (toll free)
1-866-869-1856
Program
Assistant Phone: 919-966-9696,
919-843-8869
Fax:
919-843-5016
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Support
and Survivorship
The
Bladder Cancer Center of Excellence at UNC
Cancer Care works in close partnership with
BCAN, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, to
provide patient support and information. Bladder
cancer patients and survivors provide
peer-to-peer support in conjunction with the
professionals from UNC’s Comprehensive Cancer
Support Program. Program co-leaders Raj Pruthi,
MD, and Matthew Milowsky, MD, along with
urologist Matthew Nielsen, MD, serve on BCAN’s
scientific advisory
board. | | |
