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 return
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
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)