• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Urology

UCLA Urology

UCLA Urology
  • About Us
    • Chair's Welcome
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Innovations and Technology
    • UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology
    • Webinars
    • Contact Us
    • News and Events
    • Newsletters
    • Our History
    • Our Milestones
    • The Men's Clinic at UCLA
    • Jobs
    • Giving
  • Clinical Programs
    • Bladder Cancer
    • General Adult Urology
    • Kidney Cancer
    • Kidney Stone Center
    • Kidney Transplant Program
    • Male Urology
    • Minimally Invasive/Robotics Surgery
    • Pediatric Urology Program
    • Pelvic Medicine and Reconstruction
    • Prostate Cancer Program
    • Testicular Cancer
    • Urologic Oncology
    • Conditions Treated
  • Clinical Trials
    • Find a Doctor
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • Learn More About Clinical Trials
  • For Patients
    • COVID-19 Message to Our Patients
    • Get an Expert Second Opinion
    • Telemedicine Visits Available
    • Appointment Request
    • myUCLAhealth
    • Contact Us
    • Maps and Directions
    • Clinical Updates
    • Preparing for Surgery
    • Interactive Procedure Videos
    • Patient Education
    • Patient Stories
    • Video Gallery
    • Webinars
    • Vital Signs Publications
    • UCLA Blood Donation
    • UCLA Overnight Accommodations
    • Urology Portal
  • Research
    • Bladder Cancer Research
    • Kidney Cancer Research
    • Male Urology Research
    • Pediatric Urology Research
    • Prostate Cancer Research
    • SPORE In Prostate Cancer
    • Health Services Research
    • Faculty Publications
  • Education
    • Housestaff Roster 2020-21
    • Residency
    • Fellowships
    • Medical Student Program
    • Aerial Tour: Why Choose UCLA?
  • For Healthcare Professionals
    • How to Refer a Patient
    • Physicians Updates & Clinical Updates
    • Events and CME Courses
    • eReferrals
  • Physician Directory
    • UCLA Faculty and Providers
    • Joint Appointments/Research Faculty
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Urology

Bladder Cancer

Bladder Cancer

Bladder Cancer

  • Get an Expert Second Opinion
  • Find a Doctor
  • What is Bladder Cancer
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Clinical Trials
  • Educational Materials
    • Radical Cystectomy
  • Institute of Urologic Oncology
  • Videos & Patient Stories
  • Get an Expert Second Opinion
  • Find a Doctor
  • What is Bladder Cancer
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Clinical Trials
  • Educational Materials
  • Institute of Urologic Oncology
  • Videos & Patient Stories
  1. Home
  2. Clinical Programs
  3. Bladder Cancer
  4. Treatment

Treatment of Bladder Cancer

Share this
IUO
Request An Appointment

Phone: 310-794-7700

Affiliated: Find a Doctor | Symptoms | Treatment | Diagnosis

What are the treatment options for bladder cancer?

The UCLA Bladder Cancer Program offers a variety of innovative treatment options to patients who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, including standard, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery, as well as clinical trials. Treatment plans are individualized to each patient’s cancer grade and stage as well as current state of health. Furthermore, bladder cancer treatment options vary depending on whether the cancer is non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) or muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

The UCLA Bladder Cancer Program providers are leaders in the field for the treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), offering:

  • an integrated clinic with medical oncology to provide neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy
  • a history of coordinating with medical oncologists, even for patients living out of the area
  • expertise in robot-assisted laparoscopic robotic surgery in bladder cancer surgery and urinary diversion
  • innovative urinary diversion options
  • a vast array of clinical trials for patients with metastatic recurrences that can provide durable long-term responses.

Treatment for Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)

  • Trans Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) - Initial staging and treatment of bladder cancer is performed by TURBT to determine the depth with which the tumor has invaded the bladder wall. This may be the only initial treatment for early stage tumors.
  • Intravesical Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and BCG Therapy) - A TURBT is often followed by intravesical drug therapy, in which medications are placed into the bladder through a urethral catheter, including Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG treatment for bladder cancer), mitomycin C, and interferon-alpha.
  • Active Surveillance – For appropriately selected patients, a specific active surveillance protocol can be implemented that includes intervals of cystoscopy, urine samples and possibly other radiographic examinations.

Treatment for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC)

Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy - Females

Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy - Males

Patient Guide: Radical Cystectomy Patient Education/Surgery Prep
Clinical UpdateView PDF Guide >

Cystectomy (Bladder Removal) Surgery – radical and partial

  • Open Radical Cystectomy
  • Robotic Radical Cystectomy, which is the robotic-assisted, minimally invasive removal of the bladder, may be the optimal treatment for bladder cancer for aggressive or recurrent disease. The surgery typically includes removal of the surrounding pelvic lymph nodes. Often, the urinary diversion can also be completed robot-assisted laparoscopically.

Types of Surgical Reconstruction to Replace the Removed Bladder 

  • Neobladder - UCLA is an innovator in the reconstruction of the urinary tract. In selected patients, a portion of the intestines is used to create a new bladder or neo-bladder. The ureters are joined to one end of the neo-bladder and the other end is connected to the remaining portion of the urethra. The new bladder is constructed in such a way that it will provide a reservoir to store urine and control urine flow. 
  • Continent Diversion - If the urethra is involved with cancer, it will need to be removed and some patients may benefit from creating a continent diversion, where one end of the new bladder will be brought out to the side of the abdomen to create a stoma without the use of an appliance bag. A small catheter is then passed through the stoma to drain out the urine and empty the new bladder 4 to 6 times a day.
  • Ileal Conduit - Some patients are better served by creating a simpler ileal conduit. This is created using a shorter portion of intestine between the ureters to a stoma connected to the side of the abdomen. It acts as a funnel to drain urine from the kidneys to an appliance bag attached to the patient’s skin. It requires an ostomy bag, but is a shorter and simpler operation with the least chance of post-operative or long-term complications.

Radiation Preservation Therapy for Bladder Cancer uses preservation techniques that may require patients to have both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cases are discussed in a multidisciplinary fashion with radiation oncology, medical oncology and urology physicians to provide an integrated and comprehensive treatment plan for our patients.

Treatment for Upper Tract Low Grade Urothelial Cancers using Mitogel

Urothelial cancer is a cancer that develops in the lining of the urinary system.  While most urothelial cancers appear in the bladder, upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUCs) develop in the lining of the kidney (renal pelvis) or the ureter (tube that connects the kidney to the bladder).  UTUC can block the ureter or kidney, causing swelling, infections and impairment of kidney function in some patients. At UCLA we offer Jelmyto (mitomycin biogel), a non-surgical therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of low-grade UTUC. Many of the initial studies for Jelmyto that led to the FDA approval were developed at UCLA.

Genetic Risk Assessment Program

The UCLA Genitourinary Cancer Genetic Risk Assessment Program focuses on investigation into the potential genetic causes of an individual’s urologic cancer. Up to 5-10% of cancers are related to a genetic predisposition.  If you have been diagnosed with a urologic cancer, UCLA’s team has specific referral criteria to determine if you should pursue genetic risk assessment to evaluate for a genetic cause of cancer. For those at greatest risk, often this knowledge can more precisely tailor a treatment plan that is optimal for you.

Support After Surgery

Radical cystectomy is a major surgical procedure and often patients with bladder cancer are in an age group with other medical problems. At UCLA, we have an excellent support structure to help patients before, during, and after your surgery. In addition to our surgical team, an internal medicine hospitalist service routinely follows all our bladder cancer patients following surgery and is available to see patients before surgery to get acquainted with some of our more complicated cases. We have well-trained nurses on the ward and intensive care unit, a pain service team headed by anesthesiologists, stoma nurses, social workers, physical therapists, and nutritionists. There are additional support services available through the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, https://cancer.ucla.edu/patient-care/supportive-care, as well as the Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology.

Appointments: 310-794-7700

Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest