If your tumors are high-grade, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (Ta high grade, T1 high grade, or CIS), your risk of progression to invasive disease is generally considered higher and your treatment may be more aggressive. Your urologist may want to perform repeat TURBTs if recurrence is found. Your doctor may suggest cycles of intravesical therapy (chemotherapy placed directly into the bladder through a catheter inserted in the urethra) to prevent or delay recurrence.

If you are considered at high-risk for progression to muscle-invasive disease, such as being diagnosed with a high-grade T1 tumor, then your doctor may recommend the surgical removal of your bladder, which is called a cystectomy.

The remainder of this section will provide an overview of treatment options that are available for bladder cancer patients who experience non-muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence.