Radiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer

Although surgery is the frontline treatment for bladder cancer, radiation treatment does have a role in certain patients. Simultaneous radiation and chemotherapy with cisplatin may be used instead of surgery in an effort to save the bladder. However, only about 40 percent of patients who undergo bladder-sparing treatment will be able to keep their bladder and not have the cancer come back.

The best candidates for radiation therapy:

• Have locally resected tumors
• Have only one tumor site
• Can tolerate chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatments
• Must undergo rigorous follow-up after treatment