What are the treatment options for muscle invasive bladder cancer?

There are several established treatment approaches for muscle invasive bladder cancer, including radical cystectomy (surgical removal of the bladder), chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy, and sometimes neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. Each treatment path has different considerations for recovery, side effects, and outcomes, so it's wonderful that you're reaching out to connect with others who understand this journey. This community is a great place to learn from others' experiences and get support as you explore your options with your medical team.

I had my bladder removed and now have an urostomy in its place. I developed a huge hernia, it kept getting bigger while I was in treatment. General surgeon couldn't do anything until my immune system got strong enough. I finished my treatments in May of 2025 and had my hernia repair surgery in November of 2025. I now am dealing with a hole in my stoma. My oncologist stopped all treatments until I can get this all taken care of! My urologist doesn't think he'll be able to repair my stoma due to all of the damage from the radiation. I'm currently on antibiotics to keep the infections at bay. Still no word on the solution to my issues.