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Intracavitary chemotherapy

Diagnosis:

Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC-low and high grade)

Treatment Category:

Chemotherapy

Treatment:

Intracavitary chemotherapy

Suitable for:

Suitable for patients with low grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

How it works:

Unlike systemic chemotherapy that goes everywhere in your body, your doctor may give you chemotherapy in the affected kidney region where your tumors are. Once there, the medication works to kill cancer cells.

How it is typically used:
  • Typically administered once a week for 6 weeks
How it is administered:

The medication is put directly into the kidney (renal pelvis) or ureter (the long, thin tube that connects that kidney to the bladder) either through a nephrostomy tube or ureteral catheter.

Side effects:
  • urinary tract infection
  • blood in your urine
  • side pain
  • nausea
  • trouble with urination
  • kidney problems
  • vomiting
  • tiredness
  • stomach (abdomen) pain
Is this given with other treatments?
  • Complete or near complete endoscopic ablation may be done prior to treatment
Additional information:

Reverse-thermal hydrogel containing mitomycin formulation will stay in the kidney for 4-6 hours. The liquid version of chemotherapy will only stay in the kidney for about 5 minutes.

Disclaimer: Information and services provided by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) are for informational purposes only. The information and services are not intended to be substitutes for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are ill, or suspect that you are ill, seek professional medical attention immediately! BCAN does not recommend or endorse any specific physicians, treatments, procedures or products even though they may be mentioned on this site.

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Stage: Low grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma (LG-UTUC) 

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