Advances in Urology

Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 142135, 10 pages

doi:10.1155/2012/142135

Review Article

Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: From Diagnosis to Survivorship

N. E. Mohamed,¹ M. A. Diefenbach,¹ H. H. Goltz,² C. T. Lee,³ D. Latini,² M. Kowalkowski,² C. Philips,¹ W. Hassan,⁴ and S. J. Hall¹

¹Department of Urology and Oncological Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA

²Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, University of Houston-Downtown and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030-4298, USA

³Department of Urology, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0944, USA

⁴Department of Urology, Tawam Hospital, 15258 Al Ain, UAE

Received 5 April 2012; Accepted 16 May 2012

Academic Editor: Trinity J. Bivalacqua

Copyright © 2012 N. E. Mohamed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most expensive adult cancer in average healthcare costs incurred per patient in the USA. However, little is known about factors influencing patients' treatment decisions, quality of life, and responses to treatment impairments. The main focus of this paper is to better understand the impact of muscle invasive bladder cancer on patient quality of life and its added implications for primary caregivers and healthcare providers. In this paper, we discuss treatment options, side effects, and challenges that patients and family caregivers face in different phases along the disease trajectory and further identify crucial areas of needed research.

1. Introduction

Cancer diagnosis is often perceived as a traumatic event that changes an individual’s basic assumptions about the self as effective and powerful, and the world as benevolent, controllable, and predictable [1, 2]. This event is even more devastating when cancer patients undergo extensive surgeries that severely debilitate their body image and their psychological and social well-being. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) provides a powerful, yet understudied example of the impact that cancer diagnosis and treatments may have on patients’ emotional, physical, functional, and social adjustment [3].

Previous research in this patient population has primarily been focused on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as an indicator of posttreatment adjustment [4]. Yet, in addition to decrements in HRQOL and body image, patients with MIBC must often resolve treatment decision-related conflicts and overcome financial, communication, literacy, and healthcare service barriers as they move through different phases of the cancer trajectory (i.e., cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship). Despite treatment-related physical and social limitations, patients need to: (1) balance the uncertainty associated with diagnosis and the risk of recurrence; (2) maintain previous social roles and functions; (3) solve financial issues arising from insurance issues and uncertain employment situations.

In this paper, we will provide a comprehensive overview of: (1) MIBC incidence, mortality rates, and risk factors; (2) MIBC-treatment-related side effects; (3) challenges that newly diagnosed MIBC patients face during treatment decision making, treatment-related side effects, and posttreatment healthcare; (4) indicators of posttreatment adjustment survivorship issues. We will address limitations in the existing literature and discuss future directions.

2. Radical Cystectomy

MIBC may be treated with curative intent by either external beam radiation therapy (with or without chemotherapy) or radical cystectomy, with or without perioperative chemotherapy [5]. In the United States, radical surgery is considered standard of care. Radical cystectomy also remains the treatment of choice for NMIBC refractory to transurethral resection and intravesical therapy, as well as invasive carcinoma of the prostatic urethra. In men, radical surgery traditionally includes the removal of the bladder, prostate, and seminal vesicles; in women the urethra, uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and anterior vagina have historically been removed along with the bladder [6–10]. In the recent past, however, strategies to preserve sexual and reproductive function in selected patients have led to prostate capsule and seminal vesicle sparing surgery in men and to vaginal sparing surgeries in women with preservation of the reproductive organs based on the patient’s fertility status. Radical cystectomy necessitates urinary diversion using one of three major methods: incontinent cutaneous (e.g., the ileal conduit), continent cutaneous, or orthotopic (e.g., the neobladder) diversion.

2.1. Incontinent Cutaneous Diversion

Incontinent cutaneous diversion optimal in a wide spectrum of patients. Conduits can be created using large or small intestine, but due to the manageable metabolic profile and the ease of the bowel segment, the ileal conduit is performed most commonly. An ileal conduit is an incontinent urinary diversion to the skin, requiring the creation of a cutaneous stoma and use of external stoma appliances to collect urine. An ileal conduit is considered the easiest urinary diversion to be performed surgically. Despite the fact that this is the diversion of choice for patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency or those unable to catheterize or timed void, this method has its drawbacks. Patients reporting early and late complications for ileal conduit range from 18% to 30% [11]. Stoma-related complications are common and have been reported in up to 31% of patients; these include parastomal hernia, urinary leakage, and stomal stenosis [11]. Urinary tract deterioration was found in 35% after 5-year followup and in 50% after 15-year followup. Skin irritations due to direct and continuous contact with urine, as well as constipation were also reported [7, 9].

2.2. Continent Cutaneous Diversion

This method involves creating an intra-abdominal, catheterizable urinary reservoir commonly using up to 60–70 cm of ileum, the entire right colon or a combination of small and large bowel. The continent mechanism varies based on the surgical approach [12]. The continent reservoir requires the use of a catheter to drain urine from the reservoir four to six times per day. Failure to catheterize as frequently as recommended can cause serious medical conditions including acute renal failure, perforation, and infection [13]. Early and late complication rates for continent reservoir range from 3%–7% and from 13%–30%, respectively [14]. Physical morbidity reported after continent urinary diversion includes stenosis, pouch leakage, pouch rupture (1.5% to 4.3%) [13], and incontinence. Overall, 3.2%–7.4% of patients report these complications [15]. Additionally, night-time catheterization may be more bothersome than night-time stoma care associated with ileal conduits [16].

2.3. Orthotopic Diversion

This procedure involves the creation of a large-capacity, low-pressure reservoir from colon or ileum that is connected to the native urethra [11]. Patients learn to void through simultaneous relaxation of the pelvic muscles with coordinated increase in their intra-abdominal pressure (Valsalva maneuver) [12, 16, 17]. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is required to manage urinary retention or periodically for irrigation of excessive mucous [12, 16, 17]. Patients who are not able to catheterize themselves practice timed voiding (since normal bladder sensation and urge are no longer intact). Patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency are generally not eligible for this procedure. The time needed for postoperative recovery and for achieving urinary continence is longer in older than in younger patients [16, 17]. Additionally, patients with prostatic stromal or urethral involvement and many women with bladder neck disease are not eligible for this procedure since the urethra must be removed for adequate cancer control. Daytime continence ranges from 67% to 100% and night-time continence ranges from 45% to 65% [12, 18]. The high-storage capacity and interaction of urine with the absorptive surface of the bowel continent reservoir and neobladder can ultimately cause metabolic disturbances and renal failure [11].

3. Psychosocial Effects of Urinary Diversion

3.1. Ileal Conduit

The emotional, functional, physical, and social impact of radical surgery on HRQOL significantly varies by the urinary diversion form [4, 7, 9, 12]. Studies have shown that ileal conduits are considered the easiest urinary diversion to perform surgically; however, [15] it is associated with significant psychological and practical side effects that can drastically reduce the emotional well-being of the patient [7, 9]. These effects include: (1) changed social roles decreased body image, sexual dysfunction, and barriers due to body image, bother caused by urinary leakage, odor, and frequent stoma care; (2) difficulties in activities of daily living and social activities, such as, bathing and sleeping; (3) barriers to participation in previously pleasurable hobbies and travelling [7, 9, 15]. Studies that examined bladder and bowel cancer patients’ coping with ostomy surgeries showed that feelings of shock, hate, disgust, repulsion, embarrassment, devastation, and unacceptance were common [19–21]. Patients’ coping with ileal conduit and its consequences may depend largely on the patient’s personal and social resources and the meaning and importance placed on body image, sexuality, and urinary control [19–21]. Adequate explanation of the treatment’s potential effects on sexual function, urinary control, and body image should be provided by the physician during counseling.

3.2. Continent Reservoir

In patients treated with continent reservoir, the body image, theoretically, is less disturbed and stoma care is generally not required as compared to incontinent diversion, but failure to catheterize as frequently as needed can cause urinary leakage and serious medical conditions [22]. In addition, night-time catheterization may result in reduced amount and quality of sleep [21]. In spite of the reduced impact of a continent reservoir on the patient’s body image (compared to ileal conduit), the need for regular catheterization may limit the patient’s activities of daily living and his/her participation in work and social activities. Moreover, dietary modifications to avoid frequent urostomy appliance management, voiding, or catheterization required with incontinent and continent reservoirs may result in increased risk for serious medical conditions including acute renal failure [22]. These complications could further debilitate the patient’s QOL and emotional adjustment.

4. Neobladder Diversion

A major advantage of the neobladder is that it preserves body image and may be socially desirable more than the ileal conduit and continent reservoir, as it maintains urethral voiding [3]. Patients with neobladder diversion scored better in a scale assessing posttreatment social and physical activities including bathing, sleeping, and travelling and reported fewer sexual problems and barriers than patients with ileal conduit [4]. Although daytime continence is achieved in almost all patients with neobladder diversion, night-time continence is less likely to be achieved. Results from recent research in other patient populations demonstrated the negative impact of night-time incontinence on increased depression and poor quality of life [23, 24]. Additionally, there is evidence that physical impacts of neobladder diversion on QOL vary by gender [18]. Urinary incontinence and deterioration of sexual function are more common among women compared to men following surgery and orthotopic neobladder [18]. Follow-up clinic assessments should examine emotional wellbeing and sexual function among patients regardless of the type of urinary diversion received.

4.1. Cancer Recurrence

The risk of local recurrence following cystectomy has decreased markedly from about 40% reported in initial reports to 6% to 13% observed in recent findings [23, 24]. Approximately 50% of MIBC patients relapse with distant recurrence [9, 25]. The probability of cancer recurrence is associated with tumor stage, grade, and node status at the time of cystectomy. The high rate of recurrence and the concern for disease progression in patients with MIBC necessitate careful surveillance following cystectomy (i.e., every 3–6 months in the first year, every 6 months in the second year and annually thereafter).

4.2. Posttreatment Self-Care

Patients and primary caregivers (referred to as family caregivers throughout this paper) are required to manage the urinary diversion, which involves the acquisition of new skill sets, based upon the diversion choice. Patients with ileal conduit diversion are instructed in the use of stomal appliances and skin care beginning on the second or third day following surgery [26]. The education continues, however, throughout the first several months after diversion as a variety of stomal supplies are explored to provide the best fit for the individual’s changing habitus and activity level. For patients with continent diversions and neobladders, training occurs in the first postoperative visits (i.e., 2-3 weeks postsurgery). At this time, catheters and/or drains are removed as patients become more able to manage their pouch. Patients are then instructed to empty the neobladder (through Valsalva voiding or intermittent catheterization) or continent reservoir (via catheterization) on a timed schedule that will permit an increasing pouch capacity [15, 17].

The American Urological Association (AUA) and the Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Society (WOCN) Joint Position Statement on the Value of Pre-operative Stoma Marking for Patients Undergoing Urinary Ostomy Surgery recommends that patients scheduled to have cystectomy learn about stoma care and use of stoma appliances prior to surgery when they are less distracted than in the immediate postoperative period as typically implemented in BC health care settings [24]. The Joint Position Statement, however, lacks recommendations for patients undergoing continent urinary diversion [24]. It is certainly advantageous for patients with planned continent diversions to gain greater insight into the postoperative management of their diversion prior to treatment. Informing the patient and the family caregiver about treatment effects, emphasizing the importance of timed voiding and self-catheterizing, and providing the skills needed for postsurgical health care before treatment may reduce the risk of posttreatment complications related to voiding habits and enhance treatment decision making and posttreatment QOL.

4.3. Treatment Decision and Decision-Related Outcomes

There is no consensus on the best diversion choice for patients presenting with MIBC as each of the three previously mentioned diversion methods has clear advantages and disadvantages as discussed in the previous sections [4, 7, 9, 11, 13]. Current data on the long-term efficacy of various treatment options are sparse, and support for these techniques is derived primarily from their short- to intermediate-term functional results [11]. This situation can potentially increase the difficulty in making treatment decisions as newly diagnosed patients must consider incomplete data about treatment options and side effects, as well as contradictory treatment recommendations from their physicians. Results of semistructured patient interviews revealed that patients often lack full information about treatment options and related side effects, depending on their physician for this information, resulting in decreased participation in decision making [26]. Patients need to understand how differing treatment options might influence their QOL in the short and long term when making treatment decisions. In addition, physicians need to be able to objectively communicate treatment and side-effect information to patients and facilitate integration of this information into their patients’ decision-making process [27, 28]. Incomplete information about treatment, its risks and benefits, and its impact on lifestyle and relationships may cause patients to make treatment decisions incompatible with their values and preferences and lead to dissatisfaction with treatment and a decline in patient care [27, 28]. When compared to other cancers, literature on BC treatment decision making is scarce.

5. Indicators of Posttreatment Adjustment: Health-Related Quality of Life

Most of the research on the adjustment to a diagnosis of BC and its treatment has focused on examining perceived HRQOL following treatment. Perceived HRQOL refers to patients’ appraisal of and satisfaction with their current level of physical, emotional, and social functioning as compared to what they perceive to be possible or ideal [28]. In the case of patients subjected to radical cystectomy and urinary diversion, posttreatment QOL and skills needed for posttreatment health care could significantly affect the patient’s choice of the type of urinary diversion form as no significant differences have been determined between the three urinary diversion forms in terms of cancer control and survival rate [11, 29, 30]. In spite of the increased research focus on QOL following cystectomy and urinary diversion, little is known about the psychosocial impact of treatment for MIBC.

5.1. Measures of Quality of Life Following Invasive Bladder Cancer Treatment

HRQOL among MIBC patients is commonly assessed using generic measures, disease-specific measures, or both. Generic HRQOL measures typically assess emotional and functional well-being; examples include the profile of mood state, the medical outcome study’s 36-item short form health survey (sf-36), and the quality of wellbeing scale [13, 31]. Although generic measures allow for easy comparisons of HRQOL between different diseases and treatment types and are commonly used among cancer patients, they are not sensitive to bladder cancer treatment-specific side effects [9]. This lack of sensitivity to treatment-specific side effects may limit their ability to detect important aspects of BC-related HRQOL and potential changes in posttreatment HRQOL [9].

Disease-specific HRQOL measures are used to assess broad cancer treatment side effects or BC-specific effects (see Table 1 for more examples). Measures assessing general cancer effects include The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3.0 QLQ-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) [13, 31]. Those assessing MIBC effects include the EORTC’s Quality of Life Questionnaire QLQ-BLM30 (EORTC-QLQ-BLM30) and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bladder (FACT-BL) [13, 31]. Although, these scales are more sensitive to changes in HRQOL following BC treatment, they lack sensitivity to specific psychological impact of treatment and gender differences in treatment side effects and differences in side effects between urinary diversion options [9]. Additionally it is important to address patients’ beliefs (i.e., identity, timeline, cure beliefs, consequences) and expectations regarding their treatment outcomes [32] Applications of the self-regulation theory (SRT) in cancer research showed patient illness perceptions and expectations that can influence posttreatment emotional adjustment directly and indirectly by influencing patients’ control beliefs and coping strategies [1, 2]. There is a need for research and outcomes measures that address these issues among patients with MIBC.

Table 1: Quality-of-life instruments. (With permission from Lee et al. [44]).

Instrument
Institution
Domains
Validated
Reliable
Cancer specific
Bladder cancer specific
No. of items

BCI [33, 45]
University of Michigan
Urinary

Bowel

Sexual function
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
34

FACT-VCI [46]
Vanderbilt University
See FACT-G

Urinary

Bowel

Sexual function
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (limited tocystectomy)
45

QLQ-BLM 30 module [47]
EORTC
Urinary

Bowel

Sexual function
Ongoing studies
Ongoing studies
Yes
Yes (muscle-invasive disease)
30

QLQ-BLS 24 Module [45]
EORTC
Urinary

Bowel

Sexual function
Ongoing studies
Ongoing studies
Yes
Yes (nonmuscle-invasive disease)
24

FACT-BL [48]
FACIT
See FACT-G

Limited urinary

Limited bowel

Limited sexual function
Ongoing studies
Ongoing studies
Yes
Yes
39

FACT-G [49]
FACIT
Physical

Social

Emotion

Function
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
27

QLQ-C30 [47]
EORTC
5 Functional scales

3 Symptom scales

1 Global health/QOL scale
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
30

SF-36 [34]
RAND
8 Domains including

Physical

Mental

Social function

Emotional
Yes
Yes
No
No
36

BCI: Bladder Cancer Index; EORTC: European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer.

FACIT: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy.

FACT-BL: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Bladder Cancer (Extension of the FACT-G + 12 additional bladder cancer-specific items including incontinence, diarrhea, body image, sexual function, and stoma care).

FACT-G: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General.

FACT-VCI: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Vanderbilt Cystectomy Index (Extension of the FACT-G + 17 additional bladder cancer and treatment specific items).

QLQ-C30: EORTC Quality-of-Life Core Questionnaire.

QLQ-BLM30: EORTC Quality-of-Life Core Questionnaire—Bladder Cancer Muscle Invasive (Extension of the QLQ-C30 + 30 additional bladder cancer-specific items; http://www.eortc.be/home/qol/files/SCManualQLQ-C30.pdf).

QLQ-BLS24: EORTC Quality-of-Life Core Questionnaire—Bladder Cancer Superficial (Extension of the QLQ-C30 + 24 additional bladder cancer-specific items; http://www.eortc.be/home/qol/files/SCManualQLQ-C30.pdf).

RAND Corporation: Research ANd Development.

SF-36: Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form.

5.2. Quality of Life Research Outcomes in Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients: Methodological Issues

The international medical literature on QOL following MIBC treatment focused on examining global QOL as well as disease-specific HRQOL (see Table 2). Although no superiority of any of the three urinary diversion forms in terms of overall QOL was found, patients with ileal conduits reported more problems with stomal issues, such as, leakage and bother with odor, less sexual activities, less satisfaction with treatment outcomes, greater distress with urine leakage, and lower body image compared to patients treated with cystectomy and continent reservoir [6, 33–38]. Although, in some studies, patients with neobladders scored better in physical function and body image than those with ileal conduit and continent reservoirs, they were also more likely to report a general decrease in urinary function and higher incontinence rates than those with ileal conduit and continent reservoirs [37, 39–42]. In spite of the preponderance of studies that examined QOL in MIBC patients, the methodological limitations of these studies may limit the generalizability of their outcomes [4, 29, 43]. These methodological limitations include lack of longitudinal and prospective research that examined changes in posttreatment HRQOL and the paucity of randomized controlled studies testing the validity and reliability of tools used in the assessment of HRQOL [4, 29, 43]. Given these methodological limitations, questions remain as to the nature of the information HRQOL research provides and whether this information is of clinical use during preoperative consultations with patients. Table 2 depicts examples of studies and variations in HRQOL measures in patients undergoing radical surgery.

Table 2: Quality of life in patients treated with continent and incontinent urinary diversion.

Author (Year)
Location
Sample size
Scale(s) used
Principal findings

IC
CCD
NB

Prospective longitudinal studies of quality of life in patients treated with urinary diversion

Hardt et al. [8] (2000)
Germany
24
20

SF-36, Self-design
Sexual fxn similar, all SF-36 domains returned to baseline by 1yr except physical fxn.

Note: 75% would choose the same diversion

Somani et al. [50] (2009)
UK
29

3
SEIQoL-DW, SWLS, EORTC QLQ-C30
“Family”, “health”, “relationships”, and “finance” identified as biggest contributors to QoL

Cross-sectional studies of quality of life in patients treated with urinary diversion

Boyd et al. [35] (1987)
USA
87
85

BDI, POMS, Self-design
Preoperative education important for adaptation.

CCD: more likely to be sexually active

Mansson et al. [51] (1988)
Sweden
40
20

Self-design
IC: more problems with stomal issues such as leakage + odor

Bjerre et al. [52] (1995)
Denmark
29

38
Self-design
NB with greater incontinence, but IC with greater distress from leakage and lower body image

Gerharz et al. [36] (1997)
Germany
131
61

Self-design
Similar coping strategies, social support.

CCD: Better global QOL and fewer stomal issues

Okada et al. [6] (1997)
Japan
63
74

Self-design
CCD: less local stoma problems; greater satisfaction

Hart et al. [37] (1999)
USA
25
93
103
4 Self-report questionnaires
Overall, high QOL in all groups.

IC: worse social function

Kitamura et al. [53] (1999)
Japan
36
22
21
EORTC QLQ-C30
Similar overall QOL between groups.

IC: more trouble with public restrooms + travel

Fujisawa et al. [39] (2000)
Japan
20
36

SF-36
Similar QOL between diversion types

McGuire et al. [54] (2000)
USA
38
16
38
SF-36
IC: statistically lower mental well being than population-based norm.

Conde Redondo et al. [55] (2001)
Spain
6

27
Self-design
IC: greater distress with urine leakage + lower body image

Hobisch et al. [56] (2001)
Austria
33

69
EORTC QLQ-C30
NB better across all domains

Dutta et al. [57] (2002)
USA
23

49
SF-36, FACT-G
NB marginally better on several domains

Cross-sectional studies of quality of life in patients treated with urinary diversion

Hara et al. [58] (2002)
Japan
37

48
SF-36, Self-design
Equivalent in all domains of SF-36

Mansson et al. [59] (2002)
Sweden

35
29
FACT-BL, HADS
NB: more problems with incontinence

Protogerou et al. [60] (2004)
Greece
58

50
EORTC QLQ-C30
Included matched 54 patient control group. IC with greater urine odor and day and nighttime leakage than NB or controls.

Allareddy et al. [61] (2006)
USA
56
26

FACT-BL
Compared to intact bladder (): Sexual fxn lower in individuals undergoing cystectomy. Similar QOL between diversion groups.

Kikuchi et al. [40] (2006)
Japan
20
14
15
FACT-BL
Overall QOL similar between groups.

NB: worse urinary control, better body image

Gilbert et al. [33] (2007)
USA
66

122
BCI
Urinary, bowel and sexual differences exist by diversion type. NB may have worse urinary fxn

Saika et al. [62] (2007)
Japan
56
31
22
EORTC QLQ-C30, Satisfaction
Assessment of patients 75+ yrs old:

Similar QOL between diversion types, including 31 with ureterocutaneostomy.

Harano et al. [63] (2007)
Japan
20

21
SF-36, Self-design
Similar QOL between diversion types

Philip et al. [64] (2009)
United Kingdom
24

28
SF-36
Overall QOL similar

NB: Better physical function

Sogni et al. [65] (2008)
Italy
18

16
EORTC: QLQ-C30, QLQ-BLM30
Assessment of patients 75+ yrs old: Similar QOL between diversion types.

NB: 56% and 25% daytime and nighttime complete continence rates

Hedgepeth et al. [19] (2010)
USA
89

144
BCI, EORTC BIS
Included bladder-intact comparison group (); NB: Lower urinary function.

Body Image is similar between NB and IC.

Note. Urinary Diversion Type: IC: Ileal conduit, CD: Continent cutaneous diversion, NB: Orthotopic Neobladder.

“Self-design”: questionnaires developed specifically for the study.

SF-36: Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form.

HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

EORTC BIS: European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Body Image Scale.

SEIQoL-DW: Schedule for Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighting.

SWLS: Satisfaction With Life Scale.

BDI: Beck Depressive Inventory.

POMS: The Profile of Mood States.

6. Indicators of Posttreatment Adjustment: Impact of Age and Overall Health

After age 30, most organ systems begin exhibiting progressive changes in physiological functioning, even in the absence of disease [39]. These changes result in declines in cognitive, emotional, physical, and social functioning status and affect roughly 60% and 76% of adults ages 65–79 and 80 years and older, respectively. A recent cohort study of older BC patients found that comorbidities, such as, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and urinary, hearing, and vision problems increased in prevalence with age in this population [40].

Current health status and functioning are often key factors in determining eligibility for cystectomy and other MIBC treatments. For example, much older adults are less likely to undergo radical cystectomy. Rates of 55% have been reported for adults ages 55–59 years compared to 24% and 16% for those ages 75–79 years and 80–84 years [40]. Additionally, when older adults are offered cystectomy, they are typically offered ileal conduits and not neobladders [39]. They are also less likely to receive optimal doses of chemotherapeutic agents [39].

Thus, older adults diagnosed with MIBC face twin challenges to maintaining good quality of life. These include (1) addressing the effects of physiological aging and comorbidities, which may reduce their eligibility for and tolerance of invasive BC treatments, such as, cystectomy or chemotherapy; (2) addressing the impact of treatment-related comorbidities and postsurgical complications. Various studies report perioperative morbidity rates of 30–60% among older adults [39]. However, chronological age may not be predictive of the severity of such complications. One study found differences in overall complication rates for older adults receiving neobladders (versus ileal conduits) while another found no differences in daytime urinary continence [39]. Nighttime continence was almost 100% at 5-year followup for adults 50 years or younger and 90% for those over age 60. Beyond urinary continence, few studies have focused on other quality of life issues among postcystectomy older adults, such as, sexual functioning, psychological functioning, social relationships, body image, and gender roles.

7. Indicators of Posttreatment Adjustment: Psychological Distress

Cancer diagnosis may be considered the archetypal experience of loss and is a continuous threat to the patient’s life. Cancer does not only signify an existential plight; it may arouse extreme negative emotions among those who are affected [2]. Accordingly, patients suffering from cancer or other life-threatening diseases usually need to change goals and disengage from many commitments in order to cope with the multiple medical, social, psychological and financial implications of their conditions. Although previous research among certain cancer populations has examined psychological distress, depression, coping, and emotional adjustment in both newly diagnosed patients and survivors, these issues are essentially unexplored in patients with MIBC [2, 41].

8. Survivorship Issues of MIBC Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Examining needs among cancer survivors and their family caregivers revealed different areas of unmet needs [2, 42]. These include: psychological needs (i.e., needs for help with emotional issues), health system and information needs, physical and social daily living needs, emotional support, and interpersonal communication needs [66]. Family caregivers of cancer survivors often feel unprepared for the cancer experience, have limited knowledge about what to expect regarding cancer and treatment, and receive little guidance and support from the oncology team about how to provide care and support to the patient during and following treatment [67, 68]. Moreover, among younger and middle-aged family caregivers, worries about job loss, other family responsibilities, limited social activities of daily living, and reduced productivity add to the burden of care giving [66, 68, 69]. Most family caregivers of BC patients, however, are older. This population is especially vulnerable to the emotional and physical impact of caregiving, particularly in the face of their own health problems and limited economical and social resources when compared to younger family caregivers. Older family caregivers are more likely to have comorbid diseases, live on a fixed income, and have a limited social network while they provide care and support for the patient. As a result, older family caregivers are more likely to become fatigued from interrupted night sleep and the emotional burden of caregiving. Poor physical condition, increased depressive symptoms, and greater mortality are risks encountered among older family caregivers [69, 70]. To date, no study has examined determinants of psychological adjustment and needs of BC patient and their family caregiver across various types of urinary diversion.

9. Implications for Practitioners and Researchers

Given the side effects of radical surgical treatment for MIBC, there is a strong need for consistent and clear communication between care providers and patients/family caregivers. Increasing patient awareness about treatment options, associated risks and benefits, and short-and long-term treatment effects may aid the patient’s decision making and postoperative preparedness. More consistent use of HRQOL instruments in urologic practice, assessment of family caregivers support, and pre- and postsurgical counseling can facilitate patients’ coping and satisfaction. More research is needed to examine both patient and family caregiver needs in the context of age, gender, and diversion type. Identifying these needs preoperatively is vital in providing necessary support to reduce care burden and to ultimately guide the design and evaluation of future psychosocial interventions.

10. Conclusions

MIBC presents challenges to both the patient and the family caregiver at each step along the disease trajectory; from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship. Patients diagnosed with MIBC are expected to live for the rest of their lives with the physical emotional and social consequences and practical implications of their treatment choices. Consequently, it is important for patients and the family caregivers to understand how different treatment options might influence their quality of life in the short- and the long-term when making these decisions, particularly concerning the urinary diversion. However, the optimal form of urinary diversion is uncertain. Patients and family caregivers need to evaluate imperfect data from various studies and balance perceived benefits of a diversion with the reality of reduced quality of life and added burden of health. The difficulty of making a treatment decision is further compounded by the small window of time between diagnosis and treatment which make seeking 2nd and 3rd experts’ opinions a challenge. Despite the gravity of treatment and the associated side effects and posttreatment care, no study has examined the needs of MIBC survivors and their family caregivers. A proactive approach should be undertaken to prepare the patient and the family caregiver for posttreatment health management, prior to therapy. Such action may facilitate patient decision making and also assist both the patient and family caregiver in coping with difficulties and challenges that arise after treatment.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Ms. Phapichaya (Pang) Chaoprang Herrera and Ms. Jessica Lake for their thoughtful assistance and diligent review of the paper. This paper is supported by a mentored research scholar Grant (121193-MRSG-11-103-01-CPPB) from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

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