Bladder Cancer Treatment Locations

Fred Hutch Bladder Cancer Multispecialty Clinic

As part of the Bladder Cancer Multispecialty Clinic (BCMC), located at UW Medical Center - Montlake, your Fred Hutch physicians work with an entire group that specializes in muscle invasive and locally advanced bladder cancer and other cancers of the urinary tract. They include urologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and researchers who are all looking for better ways to treat this disease.

The BCMC team gathers every week in a meeting called a tumor board. Together, dozens of team members discuss their patients’ treatment plans. This approach means BCMC patients benefit from the experience of the whole group. 

With support from the larger team, your physicians will:

• Talk about all possible treatments for your situation
• Decide which therapies will be most promising for you
• Check if any clinical trials match your needs, so you can think about joining them

Your care team will walk you and your caregiver through the treatment plan we recommend for you. You will have a chance to share your personal preferences, and you will decide together what happens next.

Our patients can choose to receive promising, new bladder cancer therapies that you can get only through a clinical trial. Many people come to Fred Hutch for access to these studies. Your care team will tell you about studies that might be right for you, so you can think about joining them.

We choose, combine and schedule your treatments based on what works for cancer like yours. Your care team makes sure you understand each type of treatment and all of your choices. 

As a new patient, you will get a complete evaluation of your unique case. You will leave your appointment with a personalized treatment plan and a clear set of next steps.

Your First Appointment at the BCMC

The first visit usually takes about four hours (8 a.m. to 12 p.m.). You will spend about three hours with your physicians. Here is what you can expect to happen.

Appointment Locations 

Your first visit takes place at Fred Hutch at UW Medical Center – Montlake. You may get your care at the Sloan Clinic, UW Medical Center - Montlake or both. This depends on which treatments you need. If you need more than one type of treatment, we will coordinate your care. Our Bladder Cancer Multispecialty Clinic makes coordination easy.

What To Expect 

Hour 1 – Exam

You will meet with a physician or advanced practice provider (APP), who will talk with you about your health history and do a detailed physical exam.

Hour 2 – Team Meeting

Your team of physicians will meet to talk with each other about your cancer and the most effective and safe ways to treat it. During this time, you can visit the Patient Resource Center and other amenities.

• Your physician or APP will present the details they learned from talking with you and examining you.

• Your pathologist and radiologist will review and explain the results of any biopsies, other tests and imaging scans you have had.

• Your urologic oncologist, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist will use their high level of experience and knowledge about the best treatment approach for people in your situation.

• Together, the team will design a treatment plan specifically for you. 

Hours 3 and 4 – Recommendations

You will meet one-on-one with each physician from your team. You will stay in the same room, and the physicians will come to you. We will explain the treatment we recommend for you and why. We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options so you can make well-informed and shared decisions you feel good about.

What Happens Next?

Before you leave, you will meet the BCMC program coordinator. They will help schedule any appointments you need next. Your schedule will depend on your exact needs. We are here to handle the details and make the process as worry-free as possible for you.