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.
Bladder Sparing and Biological Therapy
At the Saint John’s 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 Saint John’s 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.
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 Saint John’s Cancer Institute, our physicians will help you decide which is best for you:
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.
