Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract and the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Canada. Fortunately, more than half of bladder cancers are diagnosed early, at stage 0. Ninety-percent of bladder tumours are urothelial carcinoma (UC), which was formally known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

This course will introduce you to bladder cancer epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment, covering the foundational knowledge you need to provide nursing care to patients with bladder cancer. This online course will build on what you learned in Foundations of Oncology Nursing Practice or Cancer Care Basics. 

Course Objectives  

By the end of this course, you will be able to: 

• Locate the gross anatomical features of the bladder and surrounding region. 
• Recognize the common and rare pathological subtypes of bladder cancer. 
• Describe the trends in bladder cancer incidence and mortality over the last decades. 
• List factors that put a person at higher risk of developing bladder cancer, and describe the relationship between smoking and bladder cancer. 
• List the prognostic factors that put a person at higher risk of dying from bladder cancer. 
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer. 
• Describe the function of urine tests, bloods tests, cystoscopy, medical imaging, flow cytometry, and biopsy in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.  
• Apply the TNM staging system to bladder cancer. 
• Compare the types and goals of treatment used to treat stage 0-IV bladder cancer, including transurethral resection, cystectomy, intravesical therapy, radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy, and checkpoint inhibitors.  
• Compare and contrast the three major categories of urinary diversion procedures. 
• Anticipate the complications that may occur after the different treatment modalities. 

Course Syllabus

This course consists of two self-directed eLearning modules and a final quiz.

The final quiz consists of a case study where you will apply your knowledge to the care of a particular patient living with bladder cancer. The quiz is open-book and a passing grade is 75%.

Although you can complete the various components of the course at your own pace, the course must be completed within 6 weeks from the time you register for the course.

Download the full Course Syllabus

Eligibility

Available to all regulated health care professionals working along the cancer care continuum.

Payment must be received before you have access to the course. For more information, please visit our Cancellation & No Show Policy.

Participants can pay for this course online with a credit card, or send a cheque to: