Page Contents
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be used with chemotherapy to make the radiation work better.
Your Fred Hutch team may recommend radiation therapy:
- With chemotherapy, if cancer has gone into your bladder muscle layer or if you cannot have or would rather not have surgery
- To relieve pain and prevent other problems from cancer
A radiation oncologist decides on the type, dose, field and schedule of your treatment.
Bladder Cancer Care Tailored to You
You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.
Some of the types of radiation therapy your physician may use are:
- Conventional external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) — This therapy uses a machine called a linear accelerator to send beams of high-energy X-rays at your cancer. There are several forms of EBRT.
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) — This is a type of EBRT that focuses many high-energy beams of radiation on the tumor to destroy it.
- Proton therapy — This is another type of EBRT that targets charged particles called protons at tumors to kill cancer cells, instead of X-rays, which are used in standard treatments.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Radiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Radiation oncologists at Fred Hutch are experts in all forms of radiation to treat cancer, including the latest targeted therapies. They know how to choose and combine options to match your needs. In the 1980s, now-retired Fred Hutch physician Kenneth J. Russell, MD, was a pioneer in using radiation therapy for localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This allows patients to keep their bladder instead of having it removed.
Your radiation oncologist partners with the rest of your Fred Hutch care team. They work closely with your urologic oncologist and medical oncologist. They design a treatment plan for you to target your tumor and have the least impact on healthy tissue. Your radiation oncologist also works closely with you to manage any side effects from radiation treatments.
Your care team at Fred Hutch is here to help you prevent or prepare for side effects and to relieve any side effects you have. The most important step you can take is to speak up and let your team know what you’re feeling. We’ve helped many patients and families through this process and know ways to ease your experience.
Often, there are medicines to help. Based on the side effect, there may be a range of other helpful options too, like diet changes, physical therapy and emotional and practical support. We also offer integrative medicine, including acupuncture. Fred Hutch researchers continue to look for the best ways to keep side effects at bay.