Treating Bladder Cancer: Intravesical Therapy
Some types of bladder tumor are hard to remove completely with surgery. These tumors tend to be high grade. They may occur in more than one area. And they are flat against the bladder wall. They may have come back after treatment. In these cases, special medications that kill cancer cells may be put in the bladder. This is called intravesical therapy. It may be an option if you have a hard-to-remove tumor. Or it may be done after surgery to help keep the cancer from coming back.
Medication Inside Your Bladder
Intravesical therapy is often done in a doctor’s office. A flexible tube (catheter) is passed through the urethra and into the bladder. It fills the bladder with a liquid medication. This may be a liquid chemotherapy drug. It kills cancer cells. Or it may be BCG. This is a type of bacteria that helps boost your body’s immune system.
During Treatment
You will need to hold the medication in your bladder for
After Treatment
After your initial treatment, you may need to have follow-up treatments for up to a year or more. These help keep the cancer from coming back. When all the treatments are done, you may have tests done every few months to help check for cancer cells. These tests are called cystoscopy and urine cytology.
Risks and Possible Complications
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Bladder infection
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Bladder irritation (burning, need to urinate frequently, pain on urination)
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Changes in your blood cell counts (with certain chemotherapy drugs)
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Scarring of the bladder (rare)
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General infection (with BCG) (very rare)
Call your doctor right away if you develop a fever of
