Bladder Cancer

Nurse with chemotherapy

Treatment options

The treatment that is recommended will depend on whether your cancer has spread from the lining of the bladder to the surrounding muscle. If the cancer is in the lining of the bladder it’s called non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. If the cancer is invading the muscle of the bladder, it is called muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)

 

Transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) – This procedure may be carried out during your first cystoscopy, when tissue samples are removed for testing. The surgeon will use the cystoscope to locate any visible tumours and cut them away from the lining of the bladder. Any bleeding from the bladder is stopped by using a mild electrical current. You can read more about the procedure on the NHS website. 

 

Intravesical chemotherapy  - is a cancer treatment which uses medicine to kill cancer cells. This type of chemotherapy is given directly into the bladder through a tube called a catheter. The chemotherapy solution is kept in your bladder for about an hour before being drained away. You may have this after a TURBT procedure. You can read more about the procedure on the Macmillan website.

 

Intravesical BCG – this is a form of immunotherapy which is given in the same way as the chemotherapy, via a catheter directly into the bladder. It is usually given as a course of treatment for a year. You can read more about this on the Macmillan website.

Muscle invasive bladder cancer

 

If you have muscle invasive bladder cancer the treatment recommend by your specialist team will depend on how far your cancer has spread. They will advise if any of the below are suitable:

 

Surgery option

 

Pre-surgery chemotherapy - You will receive three cycles of a neoadjuvant chemotherapy over nine weeks, before surgery. This is a cancer treatment which uses medicine to kill cancer cells and the aim of giving it pre-surgery is to shrink your tumours. Find out more about chemotherapy at Royal Surrey.

 

Cystectomy – A cystectomy is an operation to remove the bladder. This involves removal of the bladder and prostate in a man.  In a woman, it may involve the removal of the womb and sometimes the ovaries. The surgeon may also remove lymph nodes linked to the bladder.Royal Surrey specialises in robotic surgery for this operation. In general, it is a five hour operation and requires about five days in hospital. The urinary system needs to be reconstructed after the removal of the bladder and this can be done in a number of ways. Your surgeon and nurse will discuss the options with you in your clinic appointment. You can read more about the procedure on the Macmillan website.

 

Find out more

You can find out more about cancer surgery at Royal Surrey.

 

Non-surgical option

 

Chemotherapy - You will receive three cycles of a neoadjuvant chemotherapy over nine weeks before radiotherapy. Find out more about receiving chemotherapy at Royal Surrey.

 

Chemo/Radiation – Combination of chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.

 

Radiotherapy - Radiotherapy is a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells . Learn more about radiotherapy at Royal Surrey Cancer.

 

Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy is sometimes used to treat adults with advanced metastatic bladder cancer (bladder cancer that has spread). It works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. Discover more information about receiving immunotherapy at Royal Surrey Cancer Centre.