Outcomes of bladder cancer

Local relapse in the bladder after conservative therapy (i.e.chemotherapy and radiotherapy) is an indication for the doctor to recommend cystectomy.

 

Where the tumour has spread to other organs, and the bones and later the liver and lungs are at particular risk, is an indication for chemotherapy; however, such chemotherapy is not curative and it use will depend on the patients condition – i.e. it may not be recommended for those in particularly poor health. Agents such as cis-platinum are the best of the chemotherapy armamentarium and their use must be by specialist oncologists, not least because they are toxic - for example to the kidneys - and their supervision and audit of their usefulness needs to made critically.

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