Doctors all over the country are conducting many types of clinical trials. These are research studies in which people take part voluntarily. Doctors are studying ways to treat bladder cancer and prevent it from coming back. Research already has led to advances in these areas, and researchers continue to search for more effective approaches.

Patients who join clinical trials have the first chance to benefit from new treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They also make an important contribution to medical science by helping doctors learn more about the disease. Although clinical trials may pose some risks, researchers take many steps to protect their patients.

Patients who are interested in joining a clinical study should talk with their doctor. They may want to read the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies. It explains how clinical trials are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov provides general information about clinical trials. It also offers detailed information about specific ongoing studies of bladder cancer by linking to PDQ®, NCI's cancer information database. The Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can answer questions and provide information from the PDQ database.

Doctors are studying surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and combinations of these types of treatment. Another approach under study is photodynamic therapy, which uses drugs that start to work when exposed to light. After the cancer cells absorb the drug, the doctor shines a special light inside the bladder through a cystoscope. The drug becomes active and kills the cancer cells.

Doctors also are studying whether large doses of vitamins or certain drugs may prevent bladder cancer from coming back after treatment.

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