A drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is put into the bladder, and a special light is used to shine on the bladder. This therapy is being studied for early stages of bladder cancer. Treatment by stage Treatment of cancer of the bladder depends on the stage of the disease, the type of disease, and the patient's age and overall condition. Standard treatment may be considered, based on its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy, and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.
Clinical trials are ongoing in most parts of the country for most stages of cancer of the bladder.
A clinical trial of intravesical therapy. A clinical trial of chemotherapy. If cancer comes back only in the bladder, treatment may be surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, depending on what treatment the patient received when cancer first appeared. If the cancer comes back following surgery to remove all of the bladder, a patient may receive chemotherapy. A patient may also choose to participate in a clinical trial.