Treatment for bladder cancer

Main treatments for bladder cancer

Bladder cancer can often be treated.

The treatment you'll have depends on:

• the type of cancer you have
• the size of the cancer
• where it is
• if it has spread
• your general health

You'll usually be offered surgery to treat bladder cancer. You may also have chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted medicines.

Your specialist treatment team will:

• explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
• work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
• help you to manage the side effects of treatment

You'll have regular check-ups during and after any treatments. You may also have tests and scans.

If you have any symptoms or side effects that you're worried about, talk to your specialists. You do not need to wait for your next check-up.

Surgery

Surgery is the main treatment for bladder cancer.

You may also need surgery if the cancer has spread to other areas of your body or if it has come back again after being removed.

Several types of surgery can be used to treat bladder cancer. For example, you may have surgery to:

• remove the cancer from your bladder lining
• remove all or part of your bladder and make a new way for you to pee
• unblock the tubes that carry pee from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters) or the tube that carries pee out of your body (urethra)

You'll be supported through surgery and recovery by your specialist treatment team.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is medicine that kills cancer cells.

You may have chemotherapy for bladder cancer:

• before you have surgery or radiotherapy
• at the same time as radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy)
• after surgery to stop the cancer coming back
• if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body

It can be given either into your bladder or into a vein (intravenously).

Targeted medicines and immunotherapy

Targeted medicines aim to stop the cancer growing.

Immunotherapy medicines help your immune system find and kill the cancer cells.

Targeted medicines or immunotherapy are sometimes used to treat bladder cancer if:

• there's a higher chance of the bladder cancer coming back after you have surgery
• you're having side effects from chemotherapy
• the tumour comes back while you're having chemotherapy
• the cancer has spread to other areas of your body

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses rays of radiation to kill cancer cells.

You may have radiotherapy for bladder cancer instead of surgery or if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.

You may have chemotherapy with radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy).

What happens if you've been told your cancer cannot be cured

If you've been diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer, it may be hard to treat and not possible to cure.

The aim of treatment will be to slow down the growth and spread of the cancer to help with the symptoms and help you live longer.

Finding out cancer cannot be cured can be very hard news to take in.

You'll be referred to a team of doctors and nurses called a symptom control team or palliative care team.

They'll help you to manage your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable.

The palliative care team can also help you and your loved ones get any other support you need.