Our Approach to Bladder Cancer Treatment

You may receive more than one type of treatment, depending on several factors, including the grade of the tumor, where it is located and whether it has spread to other parts of your body. Before we set up a specific treatment plan for your bladder cancer, we will take the following into account:

Your age, overall health and medical history
The extent of the disease
Your tolerance of specific medicines, procedures or therapies
Expectations for the course of the disease
Your opinion or preference

We will sit with you and discuss the options available so that you can be as informed as possible when making the decision.

How Is Bladder Cancer Treated?

Treatment options for bladder cancer include:

Bladder sparing therapy, biological therapy and radiation therapy
Surgery
Urinary Reconstruction and Diversion
Intravesical therapy
Chemotherapy

Bladder Sparing and Biological Therapy

At the John Wayne Cancer Institute, we treat both early and later stage bladder cancer. With bladder cancer, we aim to preserve the bladder and spare the bladder from removal if possible. Usually the physician performs a bladder biopsy or surgery to remove the tumor from bladder through the urethra. After recovery from this minor procedure, the patient returns to the clinic for review of pathology.

If appropriate, weekly outpatient treatment begins. A tube is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to administer the drugs to treat the cancer. This may be done once per week for 6 to 12 weeks, to keep the cancer from returning.

Early Stage Bladder Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment

Patients with early bladder cancer may be able to receive a biological therapy (immunotherapy) called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). It uses a weakened bacterium strain to stimulate the body’s natural defenses to attack the cancer.

The BCG solution is inserted into the bladder through a catheter into the urethra. Once the solution comes in contact with the bladder tissue, this activates the body’s own immune system to eradicate the cancer.

Unique to the John Wayne Cancer Institute is a series of treatments that can be used like the BCG and instilled into the bladder. Often patients will be unable to use BCG treatment or the cancer has returned despite the BCG treatment. In those rare cases, different drugs can be heated and instilled into the bladder to help treat the cancer.

This method of bladder cancer treatment can often prevent the cancer from returning, prolong the time to recurrence and help the patient avoid complete bladder removal.

In addition, if patient have recurrence of cancer after BCG treatment (called “BCG failure”), we have an exciting new clinical trial using intravenous Pembro. This is an exciting new therapy that turns on the body’s natural immune system. With this agent specifically, dramatic results have been seen in melanoma, and we are optimistic about its activity against bladder cancer.

Surgery is an option for most people with bladder cancer.

Transurethral resection (TUR):

The doctor uses a cystoscope to treat early bladder cancer. No cut into your body is needed. No incision is needed. This is a type of bladder sparing procedure.

Cystectomy

The surgeon may remove all or part of your bladder. Removing only part of the bladder is called a segmental cystectomy. The most common type of surgery involves removing the entire bladder, along with nearby lymph nodes and part of the urethra. This is called a radical cystectomy.

Robotic bladder cancer surgery

This procedure is known as robotic cystoprostatectomy. The John Wayne Cancer Institute specializes in robotic bladder surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. In this procedure, your surgeon uses a console to control miniature surgical equipment inserted into the body through tiny incisions. This minimally invasive surgery means less blood loss and pain, and a faster recovery.

Urinary Reconstruction and Diversion

When bladder cancer forces the removal of the entire bladder, the surgeon creates another way for urine to be collected, stored and released from the body.

There are three ways this can be done. At the John Wayne Cancer Institute, our physicians will help you decide which is best for you:

A surgeon uses tissues from the intestines to create what is known as a neobladder. The neobladder is attached to the urethra and allows the patient to urinate normally. We are leaders in the field of this minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. With this procedure, there is less blood loss and patients are able to return to normal physical activity much faster.

A surgeon uses intestinal tissue to create a path for urine to leave the body through an opening in the abdomen. This path is called a stoma. Its opening in the abdomen is covered by a bag that sits outside the body and catches the urine as it is released.

A surgeon uses intestinal tissue to create a reservoir called an Indiana Pouch and a path that leads out to the abdomen. The pouch collects urine inside the body. Several times a day, the patient uses a catheter, or soft tube, to connect to the path in the abdomen and empty urine in the Indiana pouch. Providence Saint John’s specializes in this procedure.

Chemotherapy may be used to treat bladder cancer before or after surgery. It may be used to help:

Shrink the tumor before surgery
Keep you cancer-free after surgery
Prolong life when surgery is not an option

You may receive chemotherapy in several ways:

Into the bladder:

After TUR for early bladder cancer, the doctor inserts a tube through your urethra to put a liquid drug in the bladder. This treatment may be given once a week for six weeks.

By mouth:

Some chemotherapy drugs are pills that may be given before or after surgery.

By vein:

For cancer that has invaded the muscle of the bladder or spread to other tissues, drugs are usually given intravenously.

Here are some things you can do to lower your risk of bladder cancer:

Quit tobacco. For people who already have cancer, quitting improves the effectiveness of treatment. It also may reduce the risk of getting another type of cancer, such as lung, esophageal or oral cancer.
Limit your exposure to chemicals in the workplace by following good safety practices.
Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Some studies have shown that a diet high in these foods might help protect against bladder cancer.
Visit our Oncology Nutrition page to learn more!

Doctors Who Treat Bladder Cancer

You can rest assured knowing that we have experts in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted bladder cancer surgery should those procedures be required. Meet our team of medical professionals who will be there with you throughout your treatment plan.