Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG2/5

Question

Is symptom-based review as effective as scheduled follow-up for people treated with radical
cystectomy or radical radiotherapy for organ-confined, muscle-invasive bladder cancer? Outcomes
of interest are overall survival, health-related quality of life, resource use and cost.

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Standard care after treatment for organ-confined, muscle-invasive bladder cancer is scheduled
follow-up at intervals set out by the treating team. Although this can be reassuring for both the
patient and the treating team, it is not known whether scheduled follow-up offers clinical benefit
compared with symptom-based review, which is increasingly used for people with other cancers.
Moreover, there are significant costs associated with follow-up. The current evidence about
follow-up is confined to cystectomy. There is no evidence concerning follow-up after radiotherapy.
In addition, the evidence on radiological follow-up uses mainly outdated imaging techniques.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Bladder cancer: diagnosis and management

Number

NG2

Date issued

February 2015

Other details