Bladder Cancer

• Intravesical Therapy - Several medicines including BCG, mitomycin, and Valstar can be given inside the bladder to help prevent cancer from recurring or progressing. This is done in the office with a catheter in the bladder. Because the medicine is instilled directly in the bladder, common side effects include mild burning with urination and frequency of urination. Importantly, these medicines do not cause nausea, vomiting, and hair loss associated with typical cancer chemotherapy regimens. Patients can be given oral sedation if necessary which makes the procedure much more comfortable.
• Keytruda Intravenous Therapy - KEYTRUDA may be used when your cancer has not spread to nearby tissue in the bladder, but is at high-risk for spreading (high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer [NMIBC]) and when your tumor is a type called "carcinoma in situ" (CIS), and you have tried treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and it did not work, and you are not able to or have decided not to have surgery to remove your bladder.
• Radical Cystectomy - In cases of aggressive cancer, surgery for curative intent is encouraged. At Advanced Urology we have the most experienced private surgical oncologists in Georgia who specialize in this surgery with enhanced recovery and great outcomes.

• Advanced Robotic Surgery - Robotic surgery is a great option for entire bladder, prostate gland, and lymph node removal for high volume or more aggressive cancers. This often has the highest cure rate for cancer compared to radiation treatment. Robotic surgery is done through 6 small incisions as an outpatient. Benefits of surgery include lymph node removal, more accurate staging, higher cure rates, and the option to add radiation after surgery if needed.
• Advanced Bladder Cancer Medicines - We have the latest medicines for bladder cancer including Keytruda or Pembrolizumab. Our world class urological oncologists lead or Advanced Bladder Cancer Clinic and Clinical Trials. Medicines are conveniently dispensed from our pharmacy.

Radiation seems to be an easy choice initially, but it has tremendous side effects in future years including bladder cancer, rectal cancer, radiation burns to the bladder and rectum, and urethral stricture disease. Proton therapy is another form of radiation and there is little to no long term data supporting its supposed superiority over traditional radiation. We have targeted and precise therapies for localized bladder cancer with great results and minimal risk of sexual and urinary dysfunction. These options are tried, true, and proven.