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Bladder Cancer Treatments

What types of bladder cancer treatments are available?


When it comes to bladder cancer treatment, options can vary depending on the type, stage, and grade of the cancer. Treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy each work in different ways to manage or remove tumors. It’s important to consider your overall health and how the cancer is progressing. By understanding your treatment options, you and your provider can come up with the best treatment plan for you.

Explore bladder cancer treatments:

Transurethral Resection of a Bladder Tumor (TURBT)

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) is a key procedure for diagnosing and treating bladder tumors. During this surgery, a thin tool is gently inserted through the urethra to remove any abnormal tissue from the bladder. TURBT helps doctors identify bladder cancer and removes tumors that could be harmful. Discover more about TURBT.

Intravesical Therapy

Intravesical therapy is a bladder cancer treatment that delivers medication directly into the bladder. It’s often used after tumor removal surgery or as the main treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. During this procedure, a catheter is gently inserted to administer the medication, which targets cancer cells to help stop their growth and lower the chances of recurrence. Learn more about intravesical therapy.

Bladder Removal Surgery (Cystectomy)

Bladder removal surgery, known as cystectomy, involves removing part or all of the bladder to stop cancer from spreading. When the entire bladder is taken out, it’s referred to as a radical cystectomy. Learn the risks and benefits of a radical cystectomy, and understand what to expect after bladder removal.

Chemotherapy

Two types of chemotherapy exist in bladder cancer treatment: Neoadjuvant and adjuvant. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is chemotherapy that’s administered prior to surgery to shrink tumors so that they’re easier to remove, while adjuvant is chemotherapy that happens after surgery to target any remaining cancer cells. Learn more about chemotherapy for bladder cancer.

Bladder Preservation with Combined-Modality Therapy (CMT)

Bladder preservation therapy focuses on treating bladder cancer while keeping the bladder functioning, which can improve a patient’s quality of life. This approach, often called Combined-Modality Therapy (CMT) or Tri-Modality Therapy (TMT), uses less invasive surgery along with radiation and lower-dose chemotherapy. It starts by removing the visible tumor, followed by radiation and chemotherapy to make the treatment more effective. For some patients, this therapy can offer cure rates similar to bladder removal surgery (cystectomy) while allowing them to keep their bladder. Learn more about bladder cancer preservation therapy.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses a patient’s own immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells. Normally, your immune system is effective at  spotting and eliminating threats like viruses and abnormal cells— but cancer has found ways to evade it. Immunotherapy boosts your immune system’s ability to identify and target those cancer cells more effectively. The most common type of immunotherapy used in bladder cancer is BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin). Learn more about immunotherapy for bladder cancer.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is about ensuring the best quality of life for patients throughout their bladder cancer journey. It can be provided alongside treatments aimed at curing or managing the disease. You can start receiving palliative care right when you’re diagnosed, during your treatment, after treatment, and even at the end of life. This care helps ease symptoms of the disease and the side effects of treatments, making a patient’s experience more manageable and comfortable. Learn more about palliative care.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials can offer new treatment options for patients who haven’t found success with standard therapies. By participating in clinical trials, individuals can also help advance our understanding of cancer and contribute to research efforts. They play a vital role in finding better treatments. To learn more about clinical trials, check out what Dr. John Gore from the University of Washington Medicine wants patients to know.

FAQs About Bladder Cancer Treatment Options

Where can I learn about clinical trials for bladder cancer?

To learn more about clinical trials, please visit BCAN’s clinical trial database.

What are clinical practice guidelines?

Clinical practice guidelines (or simply “guidelines”) are recommendations on how to diagnose and treat disease, like bladder cancer. Developed by experts after reviewing the research that improves the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care, guidelines help doctors find the best treatment options for different stages and grades of bladder cancer.

Explore More Bladder Cancer Resources

  • Bladder cancer treatment comparison tool: The number of treatment options can feel overwhelming. We’ve developed an easy treatment comparison tool to help you navigate which treatments make the most sense for you. Compare your treatments.
  • Find Support: Finding support in your bladder cancer treatment journey is important to help you manage the physical and emotional challenges that a disease like bladder cancer can bring. BCAN offers tools, support groups, a helpline and resources so you never have to face bladder cancer alone. Browse our support programs.

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