Bladder Cancer Treatment Options
A patient's bladder cancer treatment typically depends on the stage of the disease.
Bladder Cancer Treatment Options by Stage
Stage 0 (Papillary Carcinoma and Carcinoma in Situ)
Treatment of stage 0 may include the following:
- Transurethral resection with fulguration.
- Transurethral resection with fulguration followed by intravesical biologic therapy or chemotherapy.
- Segmental cystectomy.
- Radical cystectomy.
- A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy.
- A clinical trial of biologic therapy.
- A clinical trial of chemoprevention therapy given after treatment so the condition will not recur (come back).
Stage I
Treatment of stage I bladder cancer may include the following:
- Transurethral resection with fulguration.
- Transurethral resection with fulguration followed by intravesical biologic therapy or chemotherapy.
- Segmental or radical cystectomy.
- Radiation implants with or without external radiation therapy.
- A clinical trial of chemoprevention therapy given after treatment to stop cancer from recurring (coming back).
Stage II
Treatment of stage II bladder cancer may include the following:
- Radical cystectomy with or without surgery to remove pelvic lymph nodes.
- Combination chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy.
- External radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy.
- Radiation implants before or after external radiation therapy.
- Transurethral resection with fulguration.
- Segmental cystectomy.
Stage III
Treatment of stage III bladder cancer may include the following:
-
Radical cystectomy with or without surgery to remove pelvic lymph nodes.
- Combination chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy.
- External radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy.
- External radiation therapy with radiation implants.
- Segmental cystectomy.
Stage IV
Treatment of stage IV bladder cancer may include the following:
- Radical cystectomy with surgery to remove pelvic lymph nodes.
- External radiation therapy (may be as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life).
- Urinary diversion as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
- Cystectomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
- Chemotherapy alone or after local treatment (surgery or radiation therapy).