What to Ask Your Doctor After a Bladder Cancer Diagnosis

(BPT) - Sponsored by Ferring Pharmaceuticals

A diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) can bring a flood of questions: What does this mean? What are my options? What should I ask next?

Dr. Anne Schuckman, Associate Professor of Clinical Urology and Director of Urologic Oncology at LA General Hospital, encourages people diagnosed with NMIBC and their loved ones to come prepared, ask questions and talk openly with their care team about what matters most to them.

"As more options for NMIBC treatment become available, people diagnosed with bladder cancer and their loved ones are making complex and personal decisions about care," said Dr. Schuckman. "Coming prepared can help them ask not only what treatments are available and how they work, but how they may fit into their routine, priorities and long-term goals."

Making sense of bladder cancer information

Misconceptions about treatment options can make decision-making harder. Some people may think that if an initial treatment has not worked, bladder removal is the only remaining option, or that one treatment path applies to everyone.

Today, due to major advances in the field, many people diagnosed with NMIBC have more options to discuss with their healthcare provider than in the past.¹ Those conversations should include how treatments work, how often they are given, what follow-up is required, potential side effects and how treatment may fit into daily life.

For example, one option may be ADSTILADRIN^® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg). ADSTILADRIN is a prescription medicine for the treatment of adults with NMIBC whose cancer has not spread or responded to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment.² It is delivered directly into the bladder in an outpatient setting every three months and, for some people, may be part of a treatment plan that does not involve bladder removal.²

Like other treatments, ADSTILADRIN may cause side effects.² The most common side effects include urinary discharge, fatigue, bladder spasm, urgency to urinate, and blood in your urine. People should talk with their healthcare provider to understand its potential risks and benefits.²

Building a support system

People diagnosed with NMIBC do not have to navigate care alone. Support may come from doctors, nurses, loved ones, insurance and reimbursement assistance teams, and advocacy organizations. That support can matter well beyond initial treatment.

In a recent survey, 79% of people living with bladder cancer said fear of recurrence defines the survivor experience, while more than half said they had never received a survivorship care plan despite most believing one was important.³ A survivorship care plan is a personalized document developed with your care team that explains what follow-up care and testing you may need, how to manage side effects, ways to stay healthy and what to watch for over time.

"People may not realize the importance of building a support team," said Dr. Schuckman. "Their team can help connect them with resources, and trusted physicians and loved ones can help them process information and prepare for shared decision-making conversations."

Questions that may help guide the conversation

There is no single way to evaluate NMIBC treatment options.¹ These questions can help start the conversation:

• What is the stage of my disease?
• What factors should I consider when choosing among my treatment options?
• How does each option fit into my daily life and care routine?
• What follow-up or monitoring is required?
• Should I have a survivorship care plan, and what should it include?
• Are there treatment options that may help me avoid or delay bladder removal?
• Who can help me prepare for and make treatment decisions?

Asking questions, seeking trusted resources and speaking openly with your physician and their team can help people diagnosed with NMIBC take a more active role in care decisions.

"You do not need to have all the answers before walking into an appointment," said Dr. Schuckman. "The goal is to feel prepared to ask questions, share what matters to you and identify an approach that fits your needs."

For more information about ADSTILADRIN, including Important Safety Information and Full Prescribing Information, visit https://www.adstiladrin.com/.

What is ADSTILADRIN?

ADSTILADRIN is a prescription medicine for the treatment of adults with a type of cancer of the lining of the bladder called non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), that has not spread to other parts of the body, and that did not respond to treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Who should not receive ADSTILADRIN?

Do not receive ADSTILADRIN if you have a sensitivity to interferon alfa or any of its components.

What is the most important information I should know about ADSTILADRIN?

• Delaying removal of the bladder in patients with bladder cancer that is not responding to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy Carcinoma in situ (CIS) could lead to development of muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancer. The risk increases the longer bladder removal is delayed in the presence of persisting CIS.
• Individuals who are immunosuppressed or immune-deficient should not prepare, administer, receive or come into contact with ADSTILADRIN.

What are the possible side effects of ADSTILADRIN?

The most common side effects of ADSTILADRIN include: Urinary discharge, fatigue, bladder spasm, urgency to urinate, and blood in your urine. These are not all the possible side effects of ADSTILADRIN. For more information, ask your healthcare provider.

What should I tell my healthcare provider?

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information.