Chemotherapy After Bladder Cancer Surgery

Adjuvant chemotherapy may be used for bladder cancer treatment to destroy any cancer cells that remain following a surgical procedure to remove a portion of, or the entirety of, the bladder. It may also be recommended to help prevent the cancer from recurring. An “adjuvant” therapy is a secondary treatment – one that is given following surgery or another primary form of treatment to help increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Who should receive chemotherapy after bladder cancer surgery?

Chemotherapy is a powerful treatment that involves administering cancer-fighting drugs throughout the body through a pill or IV, or directly to the bladder using a catheter (intravesical therapy). Not everyone is a candidate for adjuvant chemotherapy, but those who are usually have a rapidly growing form of cancer, or their cancer has invaded the bladder wall’s connective tissue. Chemotherapy may also be recommended prior to surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to help shrink tumors and allow the surgeon to remove them more easily.

Chemotherapy and bladder cancer treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center 

Individualization is key when it comes to treating bladder cancer. That’s why the multispecialty team in Moffitt Cancer Center’s Urologic Oncology Program collaborate to develop tailored treatment plans for every patient. When adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended, we will select a dosage and drug combination that suits the patient’s specific diagnosis and unique health care situation. Our team also spearheads ambitious research initiatives and clinical trials to help improve chemotherapy response rates and minimize potential side effects.

Contact Moffitt at 1-888-663-3488 or fill out a new patient registration form online if you would like to speak with a Moffitt oncologist about your bladder cancer treatment options or our approach to chemotherapy. We welcome patients with our without referrals to consult with our oncologists specializing in bladder cancer.