I have metastatic urothelial carcinoma. How to treat it?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 67-year-old man who was diagnosed with bladder cancer eight months ago and had surgery to remove the tumor, but my recent scans show that the cancer has spread to my lungs and liver.

I have been experiencing increasing fatigue, loss of appetite, and pain in my back and ribs that keeps me awake at night.

My oncologist mentioned that this is now considered metastatic urothelial carcinoma and wants to discuss treatment options. I am scared about what this means for my prognosis and whether the treatments will be too harsh for me to handle.

What are my options, and how much time might I have left to spend with my family?

Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I hope you are well, and I wish you a speedy recovery. First, I want to reassure you not to be afraid, the situation is manageable, and everything has a treatment.

Even metastatic tumors can be treated; we can control them completely, stop their spread, and help you live a good life with improved quality of life.

In your case, we usually prefer chemotherapy if your general condition is good. But if your general condition is not strong, or your renal function tests are not ideal, we can use immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy works similarly to chemotherapy. It works by boosting your immune system to identify and kill cancer cells. This provides full control over the tumor, reduces spread, and can be used for a long period. The downside is that immunotherapy can be expensive, but if you join clinical trials, they can provide it for free.

For bone pain, you can take pain relievers at the affected site. Additionally, we often use Denosumab injections monthly, along with calcium and vitamin D supplements. This helps reduce the spread of the disease to the bones and strengthens your bones.

Palliative radiotherapy may also help you, along with immunotherapy

Kindly follow up after seven days.

I hope this helps.

For more queries, feel free to reach out to me anytime. I am here to help you.

Thank you.