Rather than using the same schedule for everyone, doctors should plan follow-up care for patients with intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer based on each person’s needs, according to a recent study published in the journal of Clinical Genitourinary Cancer.
Intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is not the same in every patient. Some people have a higher chance of the cancer coming back or getting worse, while others have a lower risk.
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In this study, doctors looked at how often patients were checked after surgery to remove bladder tumors. The study included 203 patients treated between 2010 and 2024. Patients were followed every three, four or six months.
After two years, about four to five out of every 10 patients had their cancer come back, and about one to two out of every 10 patients saw their cancer get worse. Overall, these numbers were similar no matter how often patients were checked.
For patients with low-grade tumors, waiting longer between check-ups (even up to six months) did not make their outcomes worse. Their cancer did not come back or get worse more often than those checked more frequently.
However, compared to people with low-grade tumors, people with high-grade tumors were more likely to have their cancer worsen if their check-ups were spaced six months apart. This means they may need more frequent follow-ups to stay safe.
“While less intensive surveillance schedules may offer advantages related to cost and patient compliance, these results emphasize the importance of careful patient selection and individualized, risk-adapted follow-up strategies,” the researchers said.
More research is still needed to find the best follow-up schedule, the researchers said.
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