What is intravesical therapy for bladder cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

My father has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, and his recent cystoscopy showed signs of recurrence. The doctor mentioned considering intravesical immunotherapy next. We are anxious about what this involves and how effective it is.

Is this commonly used to prevent recurrence, and what side effects should we expect?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I hope you are doing well.

Bladder cancer is a condition in which abnormal cells grow in the lining of the urinary bladder and can sometimes recur even after treatment. Regarding your father, since the disease has shown signs of recurrence, at this stage, we prefer to administer medication directly into the bladder, a treatment known as intravesical therapy. This treatment is usually given once a week, and each session lasts for about two hours. The complete course typically continues for six weeks, after which the condition often shows significant improvement.

During the initial phase of treatment, some patients may experience a burning sensation during urination, low-grade fever, or blood in the urine. These side effects are usually temporary and tend to resolve on their own with time.

Overall, the patient’s condition improves greatly with this treatment. Intravesical immunotherapy helps improve survival, reduce symptoms, lower side effects, and significantly decrease the risk of cancer recurrence. This is why it is the preferred treatment approach in such cases.

It is a simple and well-tolerated procedure, and no major complications are usually expected. God willing, we wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

If you have any questions at any time, please feel free to reach out. We are always here to help.

Treatment plan

Intravesical immunotherapy.

Follow-up

Review after seven days.

Thank you.