Bladder Cancer
What is mitomycin bladder treatment?
What is the short answer?
Mitomycin is a chemotherapy medicine placed directly into the bladder through a catheter.
It stays for an hour or two, then you urinate it out.
What else should I know?
It's used after some bladder tumor removals to lower the chance of the tumor returning.
Because it stays in the bladder, side effects throughout the body are uncommon.
Bladder irritation can happen.
When should I make an appointment?
If you have bladder cancer, schedule a visit to learn whether mitomycin fits you.
Which offices are closest?
Grayson families can choose either of our clinics with surgery centers: Snellville (1557 Janmar Rd, Snellville, GA 30078) or Lawrenceville (501 Crown Pointe Way, Lawrenceville, GA 30046).
How do our urologists approach this?
Our urologists use treatments placed directly in the bladder, such as mitomycin, to lower the chance of some bladder tumors returning after removal. We explain why it’s recommended for your tumor, how the treatment session works and what bladder irritation may feel like. We’ll also set up the cystoscopy checks that follow.
What happens at a visit?
On treatment day, we’ll place a thin catheter, put the medicine in your bladder and ask you to hold it for an hour or two. We’ll give you instructions for urinating afterward. Bring a list of your medicines.
How should I prepare?
On treatment day, limit fluids beforehand as instructed so the medicine can stay in your bladder. Bring your medicine list, and plan to rest afterward. Wear comfortable clothes, and let us know right away if you have burning or fever before a session, since we may need to delay it.
When should I call?
Call us if burning or frequency is severe, you see blood in your urine, or you have fever after treatment. With fever, go to the ER first.
What do patients often ask?
These are the questions we hear most, each with a short answer.
Will I feel sick from it?
Because the medicine stays inside the bladder, side effects throughout the body are uncommon. Bladder irritation can happen.
How long does it stay in?
Usually an hour or two, and then you urinate it out.
Is there a video on this?
Dr. A. Dev Mally talks about bladder cancer in this short video.
- Watch: Dr. Mally on Bladder Cancer What the video covers: Dr. Mally talks about bladder cancer.
What else should I know?
General patient education from Advanced Urology. Grayson articles list