what are treatment options for bladder cancer?

Medication

Why choose Memorial Sloan Kettering for bladder cancer treatment?

• Our multidisciplinary team is among the most experienced in the field. ...
• Our surgeons are highly skilled at using advanced techniques that can limit side effects and speed recovery. ...
• Our medical oncologists specialize in chemotherapy for bladder cancer. ...
• Our radiation oncologists use advanced techniques to target areas at risk. ...

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Procedures

Treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

• Low-risk early bladder cancer. Low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is treated with transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT).
• Intermediate (moderate) risk early bladder cancer. ...
• High-risk early bladder cancer. ...

Therapy

Treatment protocols for bladder cancer are provided below, including those for the following:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Systemic neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy.

Nutrition

Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including:

• The type, stage, and grade of bladder cancer
• Possible side effects
• The patient’s preferences and overall health

What are the best treatment centers for bladder cancer?

What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?

What is included in treatment protocols for bladder cancer?

What is the treatment for Stage 1 bladder cancer?

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What is the most common treatment for bladder cancer?

Transurethral resection (TURBT) is often done first to find out how far the cancer has grown into the bladder wall. Chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy (removal of the bladder and nearby lymph nodes) is then the standard treatment.

Is cancer in the bladder curable?

The stage of the cancer (whether it is superficial or invasive bladder cancer, and whether it has spread to other places in the body). Bladder cancer in the early stages can often be cured. The type of bladder cancer cells and how they look under a microscope.

What is the average life expectancy of bladder cancer?

5-year relative survival rates for bladder cancerSEER Stage5-year Relative Survival RateIn situ alone Localized96% 70%Regional38%Distant6%All SEER stages combined77%Mar 1, 2022

What's the latest treatment for bladder cancer?

Advanced and metastatic bladder cancer treatment A notable new FDA approval in December 2019 was enfortumab vedotin (Padcev), approved for advanced bladder cancer patients who have not responded to chemotherapy or immune checkpoint drugs.

Is bladder cancer a death sentence?

Bladder cancer is not a death sentence. With chemotherapy and a healthy lifestyle, many people have recovered and are enjoying life cancer-free. After years of successful treatment for bladder cancer, the medical industry has learned a lot about bladder cancer.

What are the 5 warning signs of bladder cancer?

Here are five warning signs to watch for:Blood in the urine (hematuria). This is the most common early symptom of bladder cancer and typically the first sign of bladder cancer that is seen. ... UTI-like symptoms. ... Unexplained pain. ... Decreased appetite. ... Postmenopausal uterine bleeding.

Can you live 20 years with bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer survival rates by stage According to the American Cancer Society , the relative survival rates for all stages of bladder cancer are: 5 years: 77 percent. 10 years: 70 percent. 15 years: 65 percent.

Where does bladder cancer usually spread to first?

When bladder cancer spreads, it first invades the bladder wall, which is made up of four distinct layers. It can take some time for cancer to penetrate all of these layers, but once it has, it can then spread into the surrounding fatty tissues and lymph nodes.

Does bladder cancer spread fast?

They tend to grow and spread slowly. High-grade bladder cancers look less like normal bladder cells. These cancers are more likely to grow and spread.

What is the main cause of bladder cancer?

Smoking. Smoking is the single biggest risk factor for bladder cancer. This is because tobacco contains cancer-causing (carcinogenic) chemicals. If you smoke for many years, these chemicals pass into your bloodstream and are filtered by the kidneys into your urine.

Is there an alternative to bladder removal?

Results: Transurethral resection, open partial cystectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and combined therapeutic regimens are available as alternatives to radical cystectomy.

How successful is radiotherapy for bladder cancer?

A CR was confirmed in 83% of the patients. The overall and cancer-specific survival rates at 3 years were 61% and 71%, respectively. Of the surviving patients, 75% have a disease-free and functioning bladder.

Which Treatments Are Used For Bladder Cancer?

Depending on the stage of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for people with bladder cancer can include: 1. Surgery 2. Intravesical th...

Which Doctors Treat Bladder Cancer?

Depending on your options, you can have different types of doctors on your treatment team. The types of doctors who treat bladder cancers include:...

Making Treatment Decisions

It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decisi...

Help Getting Through Treatment

Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital- or c...

Treating Stage 0 Bladder Cancer

Stage 0 bladder cancer includes non-invasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) and flat non-invasive carcinoma (Tis). In either case, the cancer has not inv...

Treating Stage I Bladder Cancer

Stage I bladder cancers have grown into the connective tissue layer of the bladder wall but have not reached the muscle layer.Transurethral resecti...

Treating Stage II Bladder Cancer

These cancers have invaded the muscle layer of the bladder wall. Transurethral resection (TURBT) is typically the first treatment for these cancers...

Treating Stage III Bladder Cancer

These cancers have reached the outside of the bladder and might have grown into nearby tissues or organs.Transurethral resection (TURBT) is typical...

Treating Stage IV Bladder Cancer

These cancers have reached the abdominal or pelvic wall (T4b tumors) or have spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body. Stage IV ca...

Treating Bladder Cancer That Progresses Or Recurs

If cancer continues to grow during treatment (progresses) or comes back (recurs), your treatment options will depend on where and how much the canc...

What is the first treatment for bladder cancer?

Chemo (with or without radiation) is typically the first treatment when bladder cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (M1). After this treatment the cancer is rechecked. If it looks like it's gone, a boost of radiation to the bladder may be given or cystectomy might be done.

What is stage 0 bladder cancer?

Stage 0 bladder cancer includes non-invasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) and flat non-invasive carcinoma (Tis or carcinoma in situ). In either case, the cancer is only in the inner lining layer of the bladder. It has not invaded (spread deeper into) the bladder wall.

What is the treatment for T3 tumors?

An option for some patients with single, small tumors (some T3) might be treatment with a second (and more extensive) transurethral resection (TURBT) followed by a combination of chemo and radiation. If cancer is still found when cystoscopy is repeated, cystectomy might be needed.

What to do if you have cancer that hasn't been removed?

(Less often, close follow-up alone might be an option.) If all of the cancer wasn't removed, options are intravesical BCG or cystectomy (removal of part or all of the bladder).

How to get rid of stage IV cancer?

The tumor is then rechecked. If it appears to be gone, chemo with or without radiation or cystectomy are options.

What is the treatment for cancer that recurs in distant parts of the body?

Cancers that recur in distant parts of the body can be harder to remove with surgery, so other treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy , might be needed. For more on dealing with a recurrence, see Understanding Recurrence.

Can you get a partial cystectomy for bladder cancer?

Lymph nodes near the bladder are often removed as well. If cancer is in only one part of the bladder, a partial cystectomy may be done instead. But this is possible in only a small number of patients . Radical cystectomy may be the only treatment for people who are not well enough to get chemo.

What is the treatment for bladder cancer?

Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment approach that uses drugs and vaccines to harness the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, in the same way it fights off infections. The approach is still being researched and there is a lot left to learn, but clinical studies have shown that immunotherapy holds a lot of promise in its ability to treat a wide range of malignancies, including some types of bladder cancer.

What is the procedure to remove a bladder tumor?

Cystectomy (Bladder Removal) Surgery. When bladder cancer tumors completely invade the bladder’s muscular wall, the standard of care is to perform bladder removal surgery. Typically, complete removal of the bladder ( radical cystectomy) is required. Partial cystectomy is rare because the requirements are that the tumor is easily accessible ...

What is the procedure called when a camera is passed through the urethra?

Cystoscopy is an outpatient procedure during which a thin, lighted tube with a camera is passed through the urethra into the bladder, allowing your doctor to see the inside of the bladder.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy uses chemical agents to interfere with replication and other normal functions of cells, resulting in tumor shrinkage or cancer cell death . The use of two or more chemotherapy drugs together has been found to be more effective than a single drug alone. There are several types of chemotherapy.

What percentage of bladder cancer is superficial?

Bladder Cancer Liver Gallbladder and Pancreas Urological Conditions Cancer. Over 75 percent of bladder cancers remain confined to the lining of the bladder and do not invade the bladder wall. These are called nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, or superficial bladder cancer, and when managed well, they are associated with excellent prognoses.

What is a TUR procedure?

Transurethral resection (TUR) is an endoscopic or scope procedure that does not involve making an incision in the body. Drug therapy after TUR is commonly prescribed for patients with large, multiple or high-grade tumors.

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy, used to treat cancer, is a special high-energy X-ray that is more powerful than the X-rays used for imaging studies. Radiation therapy is planned and executed in a way to kill cancer cells or alter their ability to reproduce, while the surrounding healthy cells are minimally affected.

How does radiation therapy help bladder cancer?

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses beams of powerful energy, such as X-rays and protons, to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy for bladder cancer usually is delivered from a machine that moves around your body, directing the energy beams to precise points.

How is bladder cancer classified?

Bladder cancers are further classified based on how the cancer cells appear when viewed through a microscope. This is known as the grade, and your doctor may describe bladder cancer as either low grade or high grade:

How to diagnose bladder cancer?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose bladder cancer may include: Using a scope to examine the inside of your bladder (cystoscopy). To perform cystoscopy, your doctor inserts a small , narrow tube (cystoscope) through your urethra. The cystoscope has a lens that allows your doctor to see the inside of your urethra and bladder, ...

What is a cystoscope?

Cystoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower urinary tract to look for abnormalities, such as a bladder stone. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary tract conditions.

How to get a follow up on bladder cancer?

Get a schedule of follow-up tests and go to each appointment. When you finish bladder cancer treatment, ask your doctor to create a personalized schedule of follow- up tests. Before each follow-up cystoscopy exam, expect to have some anxiety. You may fear that cancer has come back or worry about the uncomfortable exam.

What is a low grade bladder cancer?

Low-grade bladder cancer. This type of cancer has cells that are closer in appearance and organization to normal cells (well differentiated). A low-grade tumor usually grows more slowly and is less likely to invade the muscular wall of the bladder than is a high-grade tumor. High-grade bladder cancer.

What tests can be done to determine if you have bladder cancer?

Tests may include: CT scan.

What is the treatment for bladder cancer?

Chemotherapy is commonly used in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection. A radical cystectomy is the removal of the whole bladder and possibly nearby tissues and organs. For men, the prostate and part of the urethra are usually also removed.

How to give systemic therapy for bladder cancer?

Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally). The types of systemic therapies used for bladder cancer include: Chemotherapy. Immunotherapy.

What is the procedure to remove a bladder tumor?

There are different types of surgery for bladder cancer. Your health care team will recommend a specific surgery based on the stage and grade of the disease. Transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT).

What is the procedure to pass urine out of the body?

One way to do this is to use a section of the small intestine or colon to divert urine to a stoma or ostomy (an opening) on the outside of the body.

What is systemic therapy?

Systemic therapy is the use of medication to destroy cancer cells. This type of medication is given through the bloodstream or from the mouth to reach cancer cells throughout the body (the "system" in "systemic therapy"). Systemic therapies are generally prescribed by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication.

What is the term for the removal of lymph nodes in the pelvis?

For all patients, lymph nodes in the pelvis are removed. This is called a pelvic lymph node dissection. An extended pelvic lymph node dissection is the most accurate way to find cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. A chemotherapy regimen, or schedule, typically consists of a specific number of cycles given over a set period of time.

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower part of the abdomen. It is shaped like a small balloon and has a muscular wall that allows it to get larger or smaller to store urine made by the kidneys.

What is it called when you have cancer in your bladder?

Cancer that is in the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer. Cancer that has spread through the lining of the bladder and invades the muscle wall of the bladder or has spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes is called invasive bladder cancer. See the following PDQ summaries for more information:

What type of cancer begins in squamous cells?

Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that begins in squamous cells (thin, flat cells lining the inside of the bladder). Cancer may form after long-term infection or irritation. Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in glandular cells that are found in the lining of the bladder.

Where does bladder cancer start?

Most bladder cancers begin in the transitional cells. Transitional cell carcinoma can be low- grade or high-grade: Low-grade transitional cell carcinoma often recurs (comes back) after treatment, but rarely spreads into the muscle layer of the bladder or to other parts of the body.

Can chemo be given in the bladder?

For bladder cancer, regional chemotherapy may be intravesical (put into the bladder through a tube inserted into the urethra). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. Combination chemotherapy is treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

Which type of cancer begins in the innermost tissue layer of the bladder?

These cancers are named for the type of cells that become malignant (cancerous): Transitional cell carcinoma: Cancer that begins in cells in the innermost tissue layer of the bladder. These cells are able to stretch when the bladder is full and shrink when it is emptied.

Is metastatic bladder cancer the same as primary cancer?

The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if bladder cancer spreads to the bone, the cancer cells in the bone are actually bladder cancer cells. The disease is metastatic bladder cancer, not bone cancer. YouTube. National Cancer Institute.

What is the treatment for bladder cancer?

For advanced bladder cancer that has extended beyond the bladder wall, radiation and chemotherapy are treatment options. An oncologist plans the radiation therapy, which is executed in a way to kill cancer cells or alter their ability to multiply while the surrounding healthy cells are minimally affected.

What are the benefits of surgically removing the bladder?

The benefits of surgically removing the bladder are disease control, eradication of symptoms associated with bladder cancer, and long-term survival. When the bladder is surgically removed, a replacement for the bladder needs to be constructed.

What is the most commonly used intravesical drug?

The most commonly used intravesical drugs are Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and Mitomycin C. Maintenance therapy (repeated therapy on a regular basis) with BCG or another drug administered intermittently following initial diagnosis and treatment of superficial bladder tumor decreases the likelihood of recurrence.

When is a cystectomy indicated?

Cystectomy is indicated when bladder cancer is invasive into the muscle wall of the bladder or when patients with superficial tumors have frequent recurrences that are not responsive to intravesical therapy.

How often do you see a urologist?

Patients are generally seen by a urologist every 3 months for the first year or two, then every 6 months for a year or two, and once a year thereafter. At each visit, the urologist will perform cystoscopy with or without biopsy and obtain urine for urine cytology to test for cancer.

Is cystectomies a major surgery?

Our surgeons have extensive experience in performing cystectomies, which is considered a major surgical procedure. Studies have shown that patients undergoing cancer procedures can significantly reduce their risk of operative death by selecting a high-volume hospital (one that does many procedures).

Can a bladder tumor be removed without cystectomy?

The treatment of transitional cell or urothelial carcinoma is different for superficial tumors and muscle invasive tumors. Superficial bladder cancers can be managed without cystectomy (remo ving the bladder), usually by transurethral resection (TUR) with or without adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy. Muscle invasive tumors require cystectomy.

What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?

In general, the main treatment options for bladder cancer are: Surgery. Chemotherapy. Immunotherapy (local and systemic) Targeted therapy. Radiation therapy. To learn more about the basics of each type of treatment, read this guide’s Types of Treatment section.

What is stage IV bladder cancer?

Metastatic urothelial cancer (stage IV) If bladder cancer has spread to another part of the body, doctors call it metastatic bladder cancer. If this happens, it is a good idea to talk with doctors, usually medical oncologists, who have experience in treating it.

What is the first line of treatment for urothelial cancer?

The first treatment a person is given for advanced urothelial cancer is called first-line therapy . If that treatment stops working, then a person receives second-line therapy.

Can pembrolizumab be used for bladder cancer?

Pembrolizumab is approved by the FDA to treat bladder cancer that has not been stopped by, or responded to, BCG treatment (also called “BCG-unresponsive”) and radical cystectomy to remove the bladder cannot be done because of other medical reasons or the patient chooses not to have that surgery.

What is the name of the team that works together to create a treatment plan for a patient?

This is called a multidisciplinary team .

Can bladder cancer be removed?

Surgery is often among the first treatments, and the standard treatment is a radical cystectomy (see “Surgery” in Types of Treatment ). Lymph nodes near the bladder are usually removed as well. A TURBT may still be done, but it usually is used to help the doctor figure out the extent of the cancer rather than as a treatment.

Is bladder cancer recurrent?

This will then be followed with long-term surveillance. People with high-grade, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer are at higher risk for the tumor returning, called a recurrent tumor. Sometimes a tumor comes back at a more advanced stage, with a risk of developing into metastatic bladder cancer.

What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?

Cystectomy (Bladder Removal) Surgery – radical and partial. Open Radical Cystectomy. Robotic Radical Cystectomy, which is the robotic-assisted, minimally invasive removal of the bladder, may be the optimal treatment for bladder cancer for aggressive or recurrent disease. The surgery typically includes removal of the surrounding pelvic lymph nodes.

How to treat muscle invasive bladder cancer?

Treatment for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) 1 Neobladder - UCLA is an innovator in the reconstruction of the urinary tract. In selected patients, a portion of the intestines is used to create a new bladder or neo-bladder. The ureters are joined to one end of the neo-bladder and the other end is connected to the remaining portion of the urethra. The new bladder is constructed in such a way that it will provide a reservoir to store urine and control urine flow. 2 Continent Diversion - If the urethra is involved with cancer, it will need to be removed and some patients may benefit from creating a continent diversion, where one end of the new bladder will be brought out to the side of the abdomen to create a stoma without the use of an appliance bag. A small catheter is then passed through the stoma to drain out the urine and empty the new bladder 4 to 6 times a day. 3 Ileal Conduit - Some patients are better served by creating a simpler ileal conduit. This is created using a shorter portion of intestine between the ureters to a stoma connected to the side of the abdomen. It acts as a funnel to drain urine from the kidneys to an appliance bag attached to the patient’s skin. It requires an ostomy bag, but is a shorter and simpler operation with the least chance of post-operative or long-term complications.

What is the name of the drug that is placed into the bladder through a catheter?

Intravesical Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and BCG Therapy) - A TURBT is often followed by intravesical drug therapy, in which medications are placed into the bladder through a urethral catheter, including Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG treatment for bladder cancer), mitomycin C, and interferon-alpha.

What is a neo bladder?

Neobladder - UCLA is an innovator in the reconstruction of the urinary tract. In selected patients, a portion of the intestines is used to create a new bladder or neo-bladder. The ureters are joined to one end of the neo-bladder and the other end is connected to the remaining portion of the urethra. The new bladder is constructed in such a way that it will provide a reservoir to store urine and control urine flow.

Where does urothelial cancer occur?

Urothelial cancer is a cancer that develops in the lining of the urinary system. While most urothelial cancers appear in the bladder, upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUCs) develop in the lining of the kidney (renal pelvis) or the ureter (tube that connects the kidney to the bladder).

What is radical cystectomy?

Radical cystectomy is a major surgical procedure and often patients with bladder cancer are in an age group with other medical problems. At UCLA, we have an excellent support structure to help patients before, during, and after your surgery.

What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?

The main treatment options for bladder cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and radiation therapy.

What is radiation therapy for bladder cancer?

With radiation therapy, high-energy rays (radiation) are aimed at the bladder to destroy the cancer cells. This treatment may be given instead of, or combined with, surgery and chemotherapy.

How long does bladder cancer last?

Those who are diagnosed with superficial bladder cancer can often be cured, with a five-year survival rate ranging between 55 and 80 percent. If the cancer is more invasive, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination thereof have a five-year survival rate ranging from 30 to 75 percent, depending on how far the cancer has moved into ...

What part of the body is used to collect urine from the kidneys?

Continent diversion: A piece of the stomach or large intestine is used to create a pouch inside the body—near the site of the removed bladder—that collects urine from the kidneys.

How long does it take for a bladder resection to work?

Following treatments, the patient will be expected to hold the liquid in their bladder for around two hours to give it time to work. This form of therapy may keep the bladder cancer from returning and is usually done once a week for several weeks after a transurethral resection.

How does biological therapy work?

Biological Therapy. Biological therapy uses laboratory-grown bacteria—based on the body's own natural biological response modifiers— to encourage the immune system to kill the cancer cells in the bladder . The bacteria are fed into the bladder through a catheter inserted into the urethra.

Can a partial cystectomy remove a tumor?

If the bladder has only a single, small tumor, a surgeon may remove only the affected part of the bladder (partial cystectomy), as well as any affected lymph nodes. Partial cystectomy leaves the bladder smaller, thus unable to hold as much urine. While urine storage can improve over time, reconstructive surgery can also help.

Diagnosis

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Preparing For Your Appointment

Treatment Overview

• Treatment options for bladder cancer depend on a number of factors, including the type of cancer, grade of the cancer and stage of the cancer, which are taken into consideration along with your overall health and your treatment preferences. Bladder cancer treatment may include: 1. Surgery,to remove the cancer cells 2. Chemotherapy in the bladder (i...

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Surgery

Therapies Using Medication

Radiation Therapy

Physical, Emotional, and Social Effects of Cancer

Remission and The Chance of Recurrence

• Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. There are different types of surgery for bladder cancer. Your health care team will recommend a specific surgery based on the stage and grade of the disease. Transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT). This procedure is used for diagnosis and staging, as...

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If Treatment Does Not Work