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Treating Bladder Cancer

Our bladder cancer specialists will develop a personalized and comprehensive treatment plan that best meets your individual needs and will review this plan with you so that you are comfortable with the next steps. Determining the appropriate treatment depends on a number of factors, including your health and age, tumor histology, tumor grade, and tumor stage.

From innovative treatments such as immunotherapy to traditional treatments including surgery and chemotherapy, we have your needs covered to help ensure the best possible outcomes.

Immunotherapy

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), which is a live but disabled bacteria, is instilled into the bladder initially once weekly for six weeks, and in some cases, at three- to six-month intervals for up to three years. Your urologist will remove any tumor from the bladder wall before BCG is administered. BCG is used to trigger the body’s immune response against the cancer cells. It is used to lower the risk of cancer recurrence.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an important tool in the treatment of advanced bladder cancer or bladder cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. Usually, a combination of chemotherapy drugs is used to kill the cancer cells, through injection into a vein (intravenous). Chemotherapy can be administered before and/or after surgery and can be used in combination with radiation. Various chemotherapeutic agents can also be instilled into your bladder in an attempt to prevent future recurrences of your tumor.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy can sometimes be used in combination with intravenous chemotherapy (trimodality therapy) in patients with invasive cancer in an effort to save the bladder. In this case, your urologist will perform a transurethral resection (TUR) of the bladder tumor and a medical oncologist and radiation oncologist will administer a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy respectively.

Surgical Treatments