The cancer specialists at Moffitt Cancer Center are always looking to adopt groundbreaking technologies with a proven track record of improving patient outcomes, and Cysview® Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC) is a great example. Used in conjunction with white light cystoscopy, which has long been the standard for bladder cancer treatment, Cysview BLC is a bladder cancer cystoscopy enhancement that has been shown to significantly improve the detection and treatment of recurring bladder tumors.

Moffitt was the first Florida hospital to begin offering the new technology in tandem with advanced SAPHIRA™ cystoscopy equipment during transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT), which is surgery aimed at diagnosing and treating bladder cancer.

What is bladder cancer cystoscopy?

To fully comprehend the significance of the Cysview BLC technology, it’s helpful to understand what cystoscopy is and how it has been used to diagnose and treat bladder cancer.

Cystoscopy is an endoscopic procedure used to diagnose bladder cancer and aid in its surgical removal. During a cystoscopy, a physician inserts a type of endoscope called a cystoscope or bladder scope through a patient’s urethra and into the bladder. The cystoscope consists of a long, thin and flexible tube with a strong white light and tiny camera at the end. It allows the physician to inspect the bladder lining for abnormal cells that could be cancerous. The physician can also use the equipment to aid in taking samples of suspicious cells for diagnostic testing (biopsy) and/or surgically removing any cells that appear to be cancerous.

How does Cysview enhance bladder cancer cystoscopy?

Cysview is a pharmaceutical imaging agent known as hexaminolevulinate hydrochloride that’s administered via a catheter into a patient’s bladder about an hour prior to a cystoscopy. Cysview causes an increase of natural compounds known as photoactive porphyrins in the cells of the bladder lining. Healthy cells can process the porphyrins and return to normal within an hour, but cancerous cells require more time.

When a physician views the suspicious area under a blue light, any cancerous cells appear to be glowing pink. This increases the surgeon’s ability to clearly see the boundaries of the malignancy and remove cancerous cells more thoroughly than was previously possible using white light alone. In fact, recent studies indicate Cysview may increase detection of recurrent bladder cancers by up to 20%.

What benefits can Cysview provide for bladder cancer patients?

By helping bladder cancer specialists more precisely identify and completely remove cancerous growths, Cysview can potentially reduce the odds that a patient’s bladder cancer will come back. The technology also helps doctors more accurately determine the stage and grade of a patient’s bladder cancer—both critical elements in creating a precise, individualized treatment plan.

What patients are good candidates for Cysview BLC?

Bladder cancer patients whose malignancy has not spread from the inner lining of the bladder wall into its muscular fibers may be good candidates for Cysview BLC. This type of cancer, known as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, accounts for about 75% of bladder cancers.

The technology is typically used during an initial TURBT as well as in surveillance cystoscopies for patients who have an intermediate to high risk of bladder cancer recurrence. As with all cancer treatments, the inclusion of Cysview BLC in a patient’s treatment plan will depend on many factors, including the patient’s age, type of bladder cancer and overall health condition.

How does Cysview fit into Moffitt’s approach to bladder cancer treatment?

The bladder cancer specialists in Moffitt’s Urologic Oncology Program are dedicated to improving patient outcomes by providing individualized treatment plans that include the latest technologies. Cysview BLC is a valuable addition to our toolkit.

Our multispecialty team also takes a collaborative approach to bladder cancer treatment. This means that highly respected medical professionals with different areas of expertise help design each patient’s treatment plan. Moreover, because Moffitt is the only Florida-based Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute, our patients often have access to clinical trials and other cutting-edge treatments that are not available at many other cancer hospitals.

As a result of our approach, our survival rates for bladder cancer patients are nearly three times the national average.

If you’ve received a bladder cancer diagnosis or you’re experiencing symptoms that have you concerned about bladder cancer, Moffitt Cancer Center is your top choice for treatment, and you can visit us without a referral. Simply call 1-888-663-3488 or fill out our online new patient registration form to connect with us. As a cancer center that delivers nationally-ranked care in new and transformative ways, we’re committed to connecting every new patient with a cancer expert as soon as possible.