Treating Bladder Cancer 

If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, your doctor will consider several treatment options:

 Surgery
There are several kinds of surgery for bladder cancer. If the tumor involves only the superficial lining of the bladder, a transurethral resection (the use of electrocautery to scrape the tumor for careful pathologic analysis as well as to destroy it by resection and cautery) and often the installation of chemo preventive agent will be recommended. If the tumor penetrates beyond the superficial lining, the more extensive procedure, radical cystectomy - removal of the entire bladder - is often necessary. This can be accomplished in several ways: one method involves a drainage stoma on the abdominal wall that requires the wearing of a bag to collect urine. However, in appropriate circumstances, a bladder can be constructed that is reattached to the urethra to hopefully restore avoiding that is close to "normal." Therefore, the type of surgery will depend on the stage of the cancer and a lengthy discussion with your urologist.

 Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Some patients whose tumor has invaded beyond the superficial lining may be advised of a treatment plan that combines radiation therapy and chemotherapy. However, in this circumstance, radical cystectomy is the preferred treatment.

 Chemotherapy
For patients with superficial bladder cancer, the doctor may use intravesical chemotherapy after removing the cancer by transurethral resection. This is delivered through a catheter, which is placed in the bladder at the completion of the resection. The drugs remain in the bladder for several hours and affects the cells in the bladder. Chemotherapy may be recommended prior to radical cystectomy in some cases, and in other cases may be delivered after surgery. This chemotherapy is termed systemic chemotherapy as it is delivered through a vein and affects the entire body.

  Biological therapy or intravesical immunotherapy
This therapy uses the bodys natural ability to fight cancer. The doctor may use a solution that contains live, weakened bacteria to stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells in the bladder. The agent used is termed BCG. It is a weekened version of the turbuculous bacillus and is quite effective for some cases of superficial bladder cancer.