Bladder Cancer Treatments
If you or someone you know is diagnosed with bladder cancer, there are many treatment options available like Padcev, a targeted therapy for advanced bladder cancer.
1. Padcev (Enfortumab Vedotin)
Padcev is given through an IV, and it is often used when other treatments haven’t worked. Padcev targets cancer cells and helps stop their growth. It is especially helpful for people with advanced bladder cancer or those whose cancer hasn’t responded to chemotherapy. This treatment can help shrink the cancer, and it has been shown to help some patients feel better.
2. Surgery
In some cases, surgery is needed to remove the tumor or even the entire bladder. If the cancer is confined to one area, doctors may remove just the tumor. For more advanced cases, they might need to remove the whole bladder.
If the bladder is removed, the surgeon will create a new way for the body to store and pass urine. This might be through an opening in the stomach or using a part of the intestine to make a new bladder.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. It can be given before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back. Sometimes, chemotherapy is given directly into the bladder, which is known as intravesical chemotherapy.
This treatment targets the bladder more directly and helps to avoid the side effects of chemotherapy throughout the whole body.
4. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system fight cancer. The immune system is the body's natural defense against illness, but cancer cells can hide from it. Immunotherapy drugs, like Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), teach the immune system to find and attack cancer cells.
BCG is usually given as a treatment that’s put directly into the bladder. It can help prevent the cancer from returning and is often used after surgery to remove tumors.
5. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. It is usually used when surgery isn’t an option or if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Radiation can be given externally, with the rays aimed at the bladder from outside the body, or internally, where a radioactive substance is placed near the cancer cells.
6. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets specific genes or proteins that help cancer cells grow. For bladder cancer, drugs like Erdafitinib target certain mutations in the cancer cells to stop them from growing. This treatment is usually used for advanced bladder cancer that has spread or for cases where chemotherapy has not worked.
Unlocking Bladder Cancer Care
Bladder cancer can be a serious disease, but there are many treatment options available to help manage it. From medicines like Padcev to surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, doctors can create a plan that’s best for each individual. It’s important to talk to your doctor about which treatments will work for your specific case, and how you can manage side effects. With the right treatment plan, many people with bladder cancer are able to live longer and feel better.
Take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of an overactive bladder, along with some treatment options to consider.