A radical cystectomy is the removal of the bladder. It is relatively serious surgery and there is a long recovery time, but if the cancer is caught before it has spread it is a real cure. But it is not something that anyone really WANTS to do.
Since your uro is retiring, and since you have had issues and lots of recurrences, this would be a great time to get a second opinion and use this to help you chose his replacement. I know that there are also good doctors at Mass General...our president, Cynthia Kinsella, is being treated there.
Sara Anne