WVU Cancer Institute expands bladder cancer treatment options for patients across region

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Patients with bladder cancer have more treatment options than ever before, thanks to rapidly advancing therapies at the WVU Cancer Institute that are helping improve outcomes and, in some cases, allowing patients to keep their bladder when surgery to remove it once would have been the only option.

Those advances are especially meaningful in West Virginia, where bladder cancer occurs at higher rates than the national average due in part to tobacco use, occupational exposures, and barriers to early detection. WVU Medicine is working to expand access to these emerging therapies and ensure patients across the state and region can benefit from the latest standards of care.

“Bladder cancer is one of the most rapidly advancing fields in cancer care,” Ali Hajiran, M.D., chief of Urologic Oncology at the WVU Cancer Institute, said. “Even over the last year, we’ve seen treatments that are changing how we care for patients, and we’re excited to be able to offer many of those options here at WVU Medicine.”

For patients whose bladder cancer returns after initial treatment, several newly available therapies are providing alternatives before surgery becomes necessary. One newer treatment delivers chemotherapy over an extended period, allowing the medicine to remain in contact with the bladder longer than traditional approaches.

At the same time, combinations of immunotherapy and other targeted treatments are improving outcomes for patients with more advanced disease. Ongoing clinical trials are helping physicians determine which patients can safely preserve their bladder while still receiving effective cancer treatment.

“The main thing I want people to know is that blood in the urine is never normal,” Dr. Hajiran said. “If you notice blood in your urine, let your primary care provider know and get evaluated. The earlier we find something wrong, the better chance we have of treating it successfully.”

Blood in the urine is the most common early sign of bladder cancer, although it can also be caused by other conditions. Because early-stage bladder cancer is often highly treatable, experts encourage anyone experiencing blood in the urine to seek medical evaluation rather than waiting for symptoms to resolve on their own.

WVU Medicine’s multidisciplinary bladder cancer team includes specialists in Urologic Oncology, Medical Oncology,  Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, and Supportive Care who collaborate to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient.

For more information and insights from Hajiran, listen to the latest episode of Live Healthy West Virginia, “Advances in Bladder Cancer: New Therapies Reshaping Care,” available on the WVU Medicine YouTube channel and Spotify.

To learn more about bladder cancer care at the WVU Cancer Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/Cancer.