More than 70,000 new diagnoses of bladder cancer will be made in 2010 in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society; and more than 14,000 people will die from the disease. There are several treatments for this cancer, but the kind of treatment chosen typically depends on the stage and extent of the disease, says the National Cancer Institute. In many cases, more than one treatment modality is used.
Surgery
Surgery is a mainstay of bladder cancer treatment, and there are various surgeries that may be performed, depending on how advanced the cancer is, according to the National Cancer Institute. A segmental or radical cystectomy, which removes part or all of the bladder, respectfully, can include removal of pelvic lymph nodes to check for traces of cancer. If the entire bladder is removed, a new way for the body to excrete urine must be made, called urinary diversion. A less invasive type of surgery used for some cases of bladder cancer is called transurethral resection, or TUR, with fulguration. The National Cancer Institute describes fulguration as the insertion of a cystoscope into the bladder through the urethra, and a wire loop on the end cuts out the cancer or burns it with electricity.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy for bladder cancer may be external beam radiation or local radiation, also called interstitial radiation, says the American Cancer Society. External beam radiation aims high-energy beams of radiation toward the cancerous area from a machine outside the body, whereas local or interstitial radiation involves a small pellet of radioactive material placed into the cancerous area. Radiation is typically used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may be remaining in the body; it is also used in conjunction with chemotherapy after TUR to kill larger cancers that would otherwise need to be treated with cystectomy, according to the American Cancer Society. Side effects of radiation therapy can include skin changes, diarrhea, fatigue, blood in the urine and nausea or vomiting.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body, and the drugs can be given orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or placed directly in the bladder for intravesical chemotherapy, says the American Cancer Society. Chemotherapy can be given before surgery to shrink a large tumor or after surgery or radiation to eradicate any leftover cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence. According to the American Cancer Society, using more than one chemotherapy medication is more effective than using a single drug; the main combinations include methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin; gemcitabine and cisplatin; and carboplatin and either paclitaxel or docetaxel. Side effects can vary depending on which drugs are used, but common side effects include nausea and vomiting, lowered blood cell counts, hair loss, appetite loss, mouth sores and infection.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials may also be an option in treating bladder cancer. Clinical trials are highly supervised research studies that test new treatments for cancers. Participants can leave the study at any time, with no impact on their health care. The National Cancer Institute describes some clinical trials being done for bladder cancer, including chemoprevention and photodynamic therapy, or PTD. Chemoprevention is the use of medications, vitamins or other substances to help prevent developing cancer or a recurrence of cancer. PTD uses a drug and a kind of laser light to destroy cancer cells. If participating in a clinical trial interests you, talk to your doctor about whether you are eligible, and whether there are related clinical trials in your area.
