what type of treatment is used for bladder cancer

Medication

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. ...

Procedures

Treatment of bladder cancer depends on the stage of the cancer. Treatment options include different types of surgery (transurethral resection, radical and partial cystectomy, and urinary diversion), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Learn more about how bladder cancer is treated.

Therapy

Treatments for Nonmuscle-Invasive (Superficial) Bladder Cancer

• Cystoscopy with Cautery Destruction of the Bladder Tumor. ...
• Transurethral Resection of the Bladder Cancer Tumor. ...
• Intravesical Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy) Intravesical drug therapy involves placing medicines directly into the bladder via a urethral catheter to lower the recurrence rates of bladder tumors.

Nutrition

Chemotherapy is one of the most used treatment methods for bladder cancer. It is also used together with other treatment methods such as radiation therapy to reinforce them. In other cases, it is done after a surgical treatment to prevent the tumors from coming back. However, it is not compulsory.

What procedures are used to treat bladder cancer?

How to cure bladder cancer?

What is bladder cancer, and how is it treated?

Does bladder cancer require chemotherapy for treatment?

How is bladder cancer typically treated?

Bladder cancer treatment may include: Surgery, to remove the cancer cells. Chemotherapy in the bladder (intravesical chemotherapy), to treat cancers that are confined to the lining of the bladder but have a high risk of recurrence or progression to a higher stage.

Is bladder cancer easily cured?

Bladder cancer is highly treatable when it is diagnosed in the early stages. The main types of treatments for bladder cancer include: Surgery : Bladder cancer treatment almost always has a surgical component that may be combined with other non-invasive approaches, including those listed below.

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.

What is the treatment for stage 1 bladder cancer?

Most commonly, people with high-grade noninvasive (stage Ta), carcinoma in situ (stage Tis), or non-muscle-invasive (stage T1) bladder cancer are treated with TURBT, followed by local intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (or BCG, see “Immunotherapy” in Types of Treatment).

What are the warning signs of bladder cancer?

Bladder Cancer: Symptoms and SignsBlood or blood clots in the urine.Pain or burning sensation during urination.Frequent urination.Feeling the need to urinate many times throughout the night.Feeling the need to urinate, but not being able to pass urine.Lower back pain on 1 side of the body.

Does bladder cancer spread quickly?

Note: 'Bladder carcinoma in situ' is a specific type of bladder cancer. It is an early stage cancer but is always high grade. This means it can grow quickly and might spread.

What are the odds of beating 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

Does a urologist treat bladder cancer?

Most treatments for bladder cancer do involve surgery, which is performed by a urologist. But for those who are not a right fit for surgery due to age, weight or other medications, we do have alternative treatment methods available that are personalized for each patient.

What are the symptoms of stage 1 bladder cancer?

SymptomsBlood in urine (hematuria), which may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test.Frequent urination.Painful urination.Back pain.

Do you always need chemo for bladder cancer?

If it appears to be gone, chemo with or without radiation or cystectomy are options. If there are still signs of cancer in the bladder, chemo with or without radiation, changing to another kind of chemo, trying an immunotherapy drug, or cystectomy may be recommended.

How is bladder cancer removed?

Transurethral resection (TUR) is the most common type of surgery for bladder cancer. It is used to treat early-stage bladder cancer that has not grown into the muscle. The surgeon inserts a cystoscope through the urethra (the duct through which urine leaves the body) and into the bladder to remove any tumors.

How painful is a cystoscopy?

People often worry that a cystoscopy will be painful, but it does not usually hurt. Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel any pain during it. It can be a bit uncomfortable and you may feel like you need to pee during the procedure, but this will only last a few minutes.

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.

How long after TA surgery can you get chemo?

For low-grade (slow-growing) non-invasive papillary (Ta) tumors, weekly intravesical chemotherapy may be started a few weeks after surgery. If the cancer comes back, the treatments can be repeated. Sometimes intravesical chemo is repeated over the next year to try to keep the cancer from coming back.

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.

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 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.

How to learn about cancer medications?

The medications used to treat cancer are continually being evaluated. Talking with your doctor is often the best way to learn about the medications prescribed for you, their purpose, and their potential side effects and interactions with other medications . It is also important to let your doctor know if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements. Herbs, supplements, and other drugs can interact with cancer medications. Learn more about your prescriptions by using searchable drug databases.

What is clinical trial?

Clinical trials can test a new drug , a new combination of standard treatments, or new doses of standard drugs or other treatments. Clinical trials are a great option to consider for treatment and care for all stages of cancer. Your doctor can help you consider all your treatment options, including clinical trials.

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 the drug that kills cancer cells?

Mitomycin C is a chemotherapy drug that kills the normal DNA function in cancer cells and is easily absorbed into the bloodstream through the bladder's lining.

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.

How often is urine syptoma emptied?

The urine is siphoned out of the urinary reservoir with a small catheter every four to six hours. The catheterizable pouch may require surgical repair at some point after surgery due to the wear and tear of frequent catheterization. This type of reconstruction is not performed on patients with a history of bowel disease.

Is bladder cancer non-invasive?

Bladder cancer treatment options vary depending on whether the cancer is nonmuscle-invasive or muscle-invasive, and specific treatments are determined based on the stage and grade of the tumor (s).

Can radiation therapy kill bladder cancer?

Historically, radiation therapy alone has been used for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, but current treatment usually involves a combined approach of maximal local surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The role of radiation therapy in this combined approach is to kill the bladder cancer cells in the bladder that are not visible to the surgeon.

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.

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.

Does smoking cause bladder cancer?

Smoking can affect the risk of bladder cancer. Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine and pain during urination. Tests that examine the urine and bladder are used to help diagnose bladder cancer. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

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.

How to treat bladder cancer?

Sometimes, people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer receive systemic chemotherapy first, before surgery. Then they may have a radical cystectomy and urinary diversion or may be given a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy . Giving neoadjuvant chemotherapy may shrink the tumor in the bladder, destroy microscopic cancer cells that have spread beyond the bladder, and ultimately help people live longer. An important clinical trial showed that a specific combination of systemic chemotherapy called MVAC given before radical cystectomy helped people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer live longer. This approach is now a standard treatment for people whose overall health allows it. The combination of 2 chemotherapy drugs, cisplatin and gemcitabine, is also considered a standard regimen for neoadjuvant therapy in muscle-invasive disease.

What is the treatment for stage 0A bladder cancer?

People with low-grade noninvasive bladder cancer (stage 0a) are treated with TURBT first. Low-grade noninvasive bladder cancer rarely turns into aggressive, invasive, or metastatic disease, but patients are at risk for developing more low-grade cancers throughout their life. This requires long-term checkups, called surveillance, using cystoscopy and urine cytology (see Diagnosis ). To reduce the risk of future tumors developing, people may receive intravesical chemotherapy after TURBT.

What is neoadjuvant therapy?

Neoadjuvant therapy is treatment that is given before surgery, such as cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The treatments your doctor recommends mainly depend on the stage of bladder cancer. Treatment for cancer in the renal pelvis and/or ureter follow the same treatment plans based on the stage of the disease.

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 .

Where is chemo put in the bladder?

For this treatment, the chemo drug is put right into the bladder. This type of chemo is used for bladder cancer that's only in the lining of the bladder. It's described in Intravesical Therapy for Bladder Cancer.

How long does chemo last?

Doctors give chemo in cycles, with each period of treatment followed by a rest period to allow the body time to recover. Each cycle typically lasts for a few weeks. Most bladder cancers are transitional cell (urothelial) cancers, but there are other types as well, including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma. ...

Why do you need chemo before surgery?

Before surgery to try to shrink a tumor so that it's easier to remove and to help lower the chance the cancer will come back. Giving chemo before surgery is called neoadjuvant therapy.

What are the most common combinations of chemo?

When chemo is used without radiation, the most common combinations include: Gemcitabine and cisplatin. Dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cisplatin (DDMVAC) Cisplatin, methotrexate, and vinblastine (CMV) Gemcitabine and paclitaxel. For some people, the side effects of getting more than one chemo drug might be too ...

What is the purpose of adjuvant therapy?

This is called adjuvant therapy. The goal of adjuvant therapy is to kill any cancer cells that may remain after other treatments. This can lower the chance that the cancer will come back later. In people getting radiation therapy, to help the radiation work better. As the main treatment for bladder cancers that have spread to distant parts ...

Does chemo kill cancer cells?

Side effects of chemotherapy. Chemo drugs attack cells that are dividi ng quickly, which is why they work against cancer cells. But other cells in the body, such as those in the bone marrow (where new blood cells are made), the lining of the mouth and intestines, and the hair follicles, also divide quickly.

Can you use chemo alone?

Chemo drugs may be used alone or in combination, depending on what they’re being used for, a person’s overall health, and other factors. When chemo is given with radiation, the most common drugs used include: When chemo is used without radiation, the most common combinations include:

What is the treatment for bladder cancer?

If you’re diagnosed with early-stage bladder cancer, your doctor might recommend an unusual treatment called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy. BCG is used to stop the growth of bladder cancer and keep it from returning. 1

How many people will die from bladder cancer in 2021?

For 2021, it was estimated that about 83,730 new cases of bladder cancer would be diagnosed in the United States, and about 17,200 American bladder cancer patients would die from the disease. 3

Who Can Use BCG?

BCG is a treatment for early-stage bladder cancer that has not yet invaded the muscle of the bladder wall. Called non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBCs) or in situ bladder cancers, these account for about half of all bladder cancers. 3

What is the BCG used for?

The BCG vaccine is used to protect against tuberculosis, but it can also be used as a therapy against bladder cancer. 2 This vaccine is a type of immunotherapy, which means the goal of the treatment is to get the body’s own immune system to attack and kill the cancer cells.

How long does it take for bladder cancer to come back after BCG?

60% of patients do not have their bladder cancer come back after BCG treatment, but 40% of the time cancer comes back within two years.

Can a tumor be removed with a TURBT?

Surgery to remove the tumor: Early cancers can be removed with TURBT surgery. More advanced cancers may require more extensive surgery, like removal of part or all of the bladder (cystectomy). 8

What are the best drugs for bladder cancer?

These drugs can be used in different situations to treat bladder cancer: 1 Any of these checkpoint inhibitors can be used in people with advanced bladder cancer that starts growing again after chemotherapy. 2 Atezolizumab and pembrolizumab can be used in people who can't get the chemo drug cisplatin (due to things like hearing loss, kidney failure, or heart failure). 3 Avelumab can be used as an additional (maintenance) treatment in people with advanced bladder cancer that did not get worse during their initial chemotherapy treatments. 4 Pembrolizumab can be used to treat certain bladder cancers that are not growing into the muscle wall of the bladder, are not getting smaller with intravesical BCG, and are not being treated with a cystectomy.

What antibody is used to attach to a bladder cancer cell?

In the case of this ADC, the monoclonal antibody part attaches to the Trop-2 protein on bladder cancer cells and brings the chemo directly to them. (Some bladder cancer cells have too much Trop-2, which helps them grow and spread.)

How often is pembrolizumab given?

These drugs are given as intravenous (IV) infusions, usually every 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the drug.

What drugs target PD-L1?

Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and avelumab (Bavencio) are drugs that target PD-L1, a protein on cells (including some cancer cells) that helps keep the immune system from attacking them. By blocking PD-L1, these drugs boost the immune system's response against the cancer cells. This can shrink some tumors or slow their growth.

Can BCG be put in the bladder?

BCG can be put right into the bladder as a liquid. This activates immune system cells in the bladder, which then attack bladder cancer cells. For more details on this treatment, see Intravesical Therapy for Bladder Cancer.

Can PD-1 block bladder cancer?

Blocking PD-1 can allow the immune system to attack the cancer cells, which can shrink some tumors or slow their growth. These drugs can be used in different situations to treat bladder cancer: Any of these checkpoint inhibitors can be used in people with advanced bladder cancer that starts growing again after chemotherapy.

Does chemo kill bladder cancer?

The chemo enters the cancer cells and kills them. This drug may be used to treat people with advanced bladder cancer who have already been treated with a platinum chemo drug (such as cisplatin) and immunotherapy (specifically, a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor). Enfortumab vedotin is infused into a vein (IV), once a week for 3 weeks with one week off.