Bladder Cancer Program

Our approach to bladder cancer care

Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute’s specialized pathologists work exclusively with genitourinary cancers. They are familiar with genetic tumor markers that can help pinpoint treatment. Our diagnostic experts are aided by advanced imaging technology.

Nonsurgical, bladder cancer treatments
We offer a range of nonsurgical treatments, including:

• Intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy to deliver medications directly into the bladder
• Image-guided radiation therapy to precisely target a tumor, sparing healthy tissue
• Targeted therapy drugs to find and destroy cancer cells

Some patients may benefit from bladder-preserving tri-modality therapy (TMT), which combines TURBT followed by chemoradiation and may be appropriate for selected patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, including those who are not candidates for surgery or who choose to preserve their bladder.

Bladder surgery (cystectomy) is a common treatment. When possible, we use minimally invasive procedures to promote faster healing.

We offer:

• Partial cystectomy to remove the tumor and part of the bladder wall
• Radical cystectomy to remove the bladder and nearby lymph nodes
• Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT), using a scope device to remove tumors

Patients who have their bladders removed need a new way to store and release urine. We perform bladder reconstruction and urinary diversions, including:

• Ileal conduit to drain urine into a pouch outside the body
• Indiana conduit to make a urinary pouch from intestinal tissue
• Neobladder to make a new bladder from intestinal tissue