Each year, approximately 70,980 Americans receive a diagnosis of bladder cancer, which occurs when cells in the organ that stores urine begin to grow uncontrollably, reports the American Cancer Society. A variety of treatments are available to help combat this disease, including intravesicular chemotherapy.

Features

With intravesicular chemotherapy, a doctor inserts a liquid medication directly into your bladder through a tube (called a catheter) inserted into your urethra. After a required amount of time passes, you pass the medication out of your body with your urine.

Time Frame

In most cases, your doctors will have you hold the medication in your bladder for one to two hours, reports the University of Michigan. A normal course of intravesicular chemotherapy requires one treatment per week for six weeks total, according to Cancer Research UK.

Function

Intravesicular chemotherapy works by delivering medication capable of destroying the cancerous cells directly to your bladder. The treatment is most effective for small early-stage tumors, reports the American Cancer Society.

Types of Medications

The most common medications used by intravesicular therapy include mitomycin, epirubicin or doxorubicin, reports UK Cancer Research.

Side Effects

Because intravesicular chemotherapy only delivers medication to your bladder, the treatment has fewer side effects than traditional forms of chemo. Possible side effects include painful or frequent urination, urinary urgency or blood in your urine, cautions the University of Michigan.

Source:

UK Cancer Research: Treatment Into the Bladder

University of Michigan: Bladder Chemotherapy

American Cancer Society: Intravesical Chemotherapy

More Information:

American Cancer Society: What are the Key Statistics to Bladder Cancer?