Does Removing Lymph Nodes During a Radical Cystectomy Lead to Better Outcomes?

Historically, many patients who have a radical cystectomy (bladder removal) also have an extended lymph node dissection, which means taking out several lymph nodes during the surgery. A new study led by Dr. Seth Lerner of Baylor College of Medicine (and also a BCAN Board Member) suggests that taking out a large number of lymph nodes does not improve both disease-free survival and overall survival.

Rick and Dr. Lerner discuss:

• What lymph nodes and why are they important in bladder cancer
• Does a more extensive node dissection (END) improve both disease-free survival and overall survival?
• The side effects of removing several lymph nodes
• How, in Dr. Lerner’s study, they found a higher risk of grade of moderate to life-threatening side effects at both 30 days and 90 days after a radical cystectomy and END
• How they also studied how radical cystectomy patients fared with and without chemotherapy after surgery