Intravesical chemotherapy is a treatment for bladder cancer. In this, the drug is directly placed into the bladder via a catheter. There are side effects in this treatment; however, they are manageable and not everyone experiences them.

In this chemotherapy, the drugs are concentrated in the bladder instead of traveling through the body via the bloodstream. The cancer cells in the bladder are killed. Hence, this chemotherapy is generally recommended for Stage 0 or Stage I bladder cancer wherein the cancer is not spread to the other parts. There are varieties of drugs and their combinations are used in intravesical therapy. The most common one is BCG, or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin combination.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is an effective intravesical immunotherapy for treating early-stage bladder cancer. BCG is a bacterium related to the causative agent of tuberculosis. BCG vaccination is given in certain countries as a protection against tuberculosis as a part of childhood vaccination schedule. BCG is administered into the bladder through a catheter. The body’s immune system responds to BCG. It is generally administered once a week for a span of 6 weeks. This treatment could also be given along with a surgical procedure called transurethral resection of the tumor.

Side effects of BCG treatment are fever, chills and fatigue along with a burning sensation in the bladder. However, if there is consistent fever then it is essential to consult a doctor right away, as this could be life threatening because the BCG could enter the blood and spread in the body.

Interferon: These substances stimulate the immune system. They are naturally produced by certain cells in the body and they can also be made in the lab and used for medicinal purposes. Interferon-alpha is an interferon commonly used to treat bladder cancer.

Some side effects of this interferon are muscle pain, bone pain, headache, cognitive problems, trouble in concentration, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. There are drugs available to reduce these side effects.

Some other drugs used in intravesicular chemotherapy include mitomycin and thiotepa. Sometimes, doxorubicin, gemcitabine and valrubicin could also be used.

This treatment is also done after surgery once the tumor is removed. The drug is put through the catheter and the catheter is removed. The patient is not supposed to pass urine for the next two hours. This gives the drug enough time to be in contact with the lining of the bladder and act upon the cancer cells. After the treatment is over, the patient can pass the urine naturally or it could drained through the catheter if the patient is not able to get up. For patient with early bladder cancer, this is the only treatment required to be cured.

Patients with grade 2 tumors are given further treatment intravesical chemotherapy to reduce the recurrence or spreading of cancer. In this case, a solution of a chemotherapy drug like mitomycin, epirubicin or doxorubicin is administered into the bladder every week for 6 weeks. This could be done after every few weeks or months up to 3 years. This treatment is also done in case of recurrence.

Giving chemotherapy into the bladder is a much better option in case of bladder cancer as compared to intravenous drug administration or tablets because the side effects are minimal. The drug stays in bladder and very little enters the bloodstream.

The main side effect of this therapy is irritation of the bladder. It is as good as having a urinary infection. It could be painful to pass urine or the frequency of urination could increase. A few people could develop rash on their hands and feet.

Intravesical chemotherapy means that only liquid drugs are used to be able to administer through the catheter. The aim of this treatment is to treat the cancer and prevent it from recurring or spreading to other organs. This has been effective so far in treating bladder cancers, sometimes stage two cancers.