Latest news with #bladdercancer
Health Line
2 days ago
- Business
- Health Line
Does Medicare Cover BCG Treatment for Bladder Cancer?
BCG is an immunotherapy treatment. Medicare may cover BCG when medically necessary to treat certain types of bladder cancer or after a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the standard immunotherapy drug for bladder cancer. Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to attack cancer cells. With BCG, the doctor inserts a catheter into your bladder to deposit a drug made from a weakened strain of Mycobacterium bovis, a vaccine for tuberculosis. Original Medicare (parts A and B) covers approved treatments and services for bladder cancer that your healthcare team deems medically necessary, which can include BCG. Read on to learn about when Medicare might cover BCG, your eligibility for coverage, and your anticipated costs. Are you eligible for BCG treatment for bladder cancer with Medicare? Doctors tend to recommend BCG treatment for carcinoma in situ and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, which includes noninvasive (stage 0) and minimally invasive (stage 1) bladder cancers. They also typically would suggest it after you've received a procedure known as transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to reduce your chance of the cancer returning. Generally, Original Medicare should approve BCG if you need it under these circumstances. Part A will cover it while you're hospitalized, whereas Part B will cover it if you get the treatment as an outpatient. If you're enrolled in Medicare Advantage (Part C), you should receive the same coverage. Is Anktiva covered by Medicare? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug Anktiva for use alongside BCG treatment. Like BCG, Anktiva is administered into the bladder. Medicare Part A and B may cover Anktiva if medically necessary, with covered BCG treatment. Note that Parts A and B should cover the drug itself and not just the catheter administration procedure. This is because you cannot administer the medication to yourself, in which case it would fall under the coverage of Medicare Part D. That said, currently there is a shortage of the BCG drug. For this reason, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare may approve your treatment at a dose less than the usual dose of 81 milligrams (mg) or 1 vial per session. How much does BCG treatment for bladder cancer cost? A 2021 study analyzed the administration of BCG therapy within the Veterans Affairs Health System between 2000 and 2015. After one year, the median cost was around $29,459, increasing to $55,267 by two years, and reaching $117,361 at five years. That said, your share of this cost after your Medicare coverage kicks in depends on the part of Medicare responsible for your coverage. Under Part B, after you've met the 2025 deductible of $257, Part B will pay for 80% of any covered treatment or service. You also have to pay a monthly premium, which starts at $185, depending on your income. Under Part A, in most cases, you don't have a premium, though you must meet a $1,676 deductible. Once you do, Part A will cover your treatment fully for the first 60 days of hospitalization. After that, you begin to incur a daily cost that increases over time until you become responsible for the full, remaining cost. If you're covered by Part C, your plan is managed by a private insurer, which means your premium, deductible, and coinsurance depend on your plan. According to the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare (CMS), the average monthly premium for Part C plans is around $17.00 in 2025. In addition, to remain enrolled in a Part C plan, you still have to pay the Part B premium. That said, some Part C may cover your Part B premium. Where can you get help with the cost of BCG treatment for bladder cancer? Several factors affect the cost of treating bladder cancer, including: how aggressive the cancer is the stage at which it was diagnosed the treatment prescribed by your doctor Managing your medical expenses starts with ensuring that your doctor accepts your Original Medicare or Part C plan. If you're enrolled in Original Medicare, you can also consider enrolling in a Medicare supplement plan (Medigap) to help with out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments and deductibles. You can choose from 10 different plans, depending on factors like your location and coverage needs. However, you cannot use Medigap with Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. You may also wish to check if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and Extra Help, and if you might dually qualify for Medicare and Medicaid. Outside of Medicare, you may wish to check non-profit financial assistance programs. What other treatments does Medicare cover for bladder cancer? Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, including cancer treatments and diagnostics you receive as an inpatient. Part A also offers: some coverage for care at home, such as skilled nursing and physical therapy limited coverage for care in a skilled nursing facility after 3 days in the hospital care in a hospice In the case of medically necessary outpatient treatments and services to treat bladder cancer, Medicare Part B covers: visits with your doctor (including oncologists and other specialists) diagnostic testing (lab tests, ultrasound, etc.) many chemotherapy drugs administered through an IV at your doctor's office or a clinic some chemotherapy drugs administered orally outpatient clinic radiation treatments durable medical equipment, such as feeder pumps and wheelchairs Any treatment drugs you can take yourself would fall under Part D coverage. That said, Medicare may not cover every medication. Always confirm coverage and expected costs before receiving treatment. If Medicare doesn't cover the treatment you need, discuss payment plans or other options with your doctor. Takeaway Medicare covers treatment and services for bladder cancer; however, you may still have significant out-of-pocket costs depending on factors like recommended treatment or the stage of your cancer. You can work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that maximizes your Medicare coverage. If you have additional coverage, such as a Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan or a Medigap (Medicare supplement) plan, many of your out-of-pocket costs will be covered.
The Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
New treatment allows cancer patients to avoid going under the knife
You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback. You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Australian hospitals have adopted a new combination chemotherapy for bladder cancer that has brought remission rates to 60 per cent, taking patients out from under the knife. A blend of the drugs Gemcitabine and Docetaxel has seen patients sidestep side effects while cutting rates of surgical bladder removal since being trialled at Monash Health in 2023, with the treatment now available to hospitals. Hailed as a means to 'change the whole protocol for the treatment of bladder cancer', the combination takes medications already made affordable by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to an eligible population of thousands of patients. The drugs are referred to collectively as Gem-Doce. It represents the first non-surgical alternative in bladder cancer treatment since the decades-old introduction of tuberculosis drug Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, for which supply is volatile. Retired teacher Alan Feher, 72, was a successful recipient of the combination therapy after he was diagnosed with aggressive bladder cancer. He had been late to catch his cancer, given he is colour blind and missed the most obvious symptom of blood in his urine. He was also misdiagnosed with an enlarged prostate in 2018 before landing on the true cause of his symptoms. 'It's quite by accident that the process started because I was mainly concerned about prostate cancer, and didn't have much idea about bladder cancer,' he said. 'The biopsy showed two things: that it was a non-invasive bladder cancer, and it was also high grade. 'The urologist said it was normal to remove the bladder and the prostate … that's looking at quite radical surgery, which would have meant having some kind of a bag hanging off of my body, where the kidneys redirected outside of my body … I nearly fainted when I heard that.' Facing the prospect of surgery, his entrance into the 2023 drug trial led him into remission. Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand president Damien Bolton welcomed the successful combination therapy, pointing to rising death rates from bladder cancer as an indication of how necessary new treatments were. Its lethality has risen in line with Australia's ageing population. Weranja Ranasinghe. Picture: Monash Health Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand president Damien Bolton. 'One way we can hold back and hopefully cure bladder cancer is not by having a big operation to remove your bladder and give you a stoma, or by having chemotherapy and radiation which have serious toxicities, but by putting different anti-cancer agents into the bladder, and this combination … Gem-Doce, is a huge step forward for that,' he said. 'Since the time of Covid, there's been a shortage worldwide of BCG … in Australia, like many countries around the world, we've had to ration our use. 'Now with Gem-Doce, you've got the ability to reserve BCG for when it's most needed, and you've got another viable alternative.' Professor Bolton said he hoped, pending the therapy's success, it would be adopted into recommended treatment guidelines. Annually, more than 3000 Australians are diagnosed with bladder cancer, most aged over 50. An aggressive cancer, it disproportionately affects men. In isolation, Gemcitabine and Docetaxel are poor treatments for bladder cancer; when administered together, 60-69 per cent of patients respond positively. A simultaneous European study has reported a 79 per cent high-grade disease-free survival rate and 73 per cent overall disease-free survival rate. Monash Health study lead Weranja Ranasinghe said the therapy would take patients out of palliative care. 'This new treatment provides an excellent alternative for these patients with good tolerance and durability. The other advantage is that these agents are widely available and affordable,' Associate Professor Ranasinghe said. 'The new treatment, Gem-Doce, is (using) established chemotherapy medicines and administering them sequentially into the bladder is shown to be effective in about 60 to 69 per cent of patients who don't respond to BCG treatment or who want to preserve their bladder.' Read related topics: HealthVaccinations
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Agilis Robotics Achieves Milestone with World's First Robotic-Assisted En Bloc Resection of Bladder Tumour in Collaboration with CUHK
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 May 2025 - Hong Kong-based Agilis Robotics has reached a major milestone in surgical innovation with the successful completion of the world's first robotic-assisted en bloc resection of bladder tumour (ERBT) in patients. This clinical trial, conducted with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), highlights the Intilume™ System's potential to improve precision and safety in minimally invasive surgeries. The trial, conducted since December 2022, involved eight patients with bladder tumours. All procedures achieved complete tumour removal, and six patients who completed 30-day post-surgery observations showed satisfactory recovery. Two patients remain under observation, with all participants discharged within 1–2 days. The Intilume™ System The Intilume™ System is a robotic surgical platform designed to improve precision and stability in minimally invasive procedures. Featuring two dextrous and miniaturised robotic arms (2.8mm–3.5mm in diameter), it enables accurate en bloc tumour resections in confined spaces. Its intuitive controls can reduce reliance on manual dexterity, shorten the learning curve, and enhance outcomes for complex procedures like ERBT. Addressing Bladder Cancer Treatment Challenges Bladder cancer is among the 10 most common cancers globally, with 75% of cases being non-muscle-invasive. ERBT is more effective than conventional transurethral resection (TURBT) in reducing recurrence but requires high surgical expertise and carries bleeding and bladder perforation risks. The Intilume™ System improves stability and precision, minimizing these risks. Dr. Peter CHIU Ka-fung, Associate Professor in CUHK's Division of Urology, remarked: "The robotic system increases the stability of ERBT operations, reducing the risks of bleeding and perforation, and enhancing surgical precision. It helps lower the risk of recurrence due to residual tumour tissue and speed up patient recovery. Future Applications The Intilume™ System has potential applications beyond bladder cancer, including gastrointestinal, prostate, uterine, and biliary surgeries. Its compatibility with standard endoscopes and adaptable design makes it a versatile tool across various specialties. This milestone underscores Agilis Robotics' commitment to advancing precision in minimally invasive surgery. Hashtag: #AgilisRobotics The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Agilis Robotics
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Telford man found cancer symptoms the day before wedding
"I hope that by sharing my story, I might encourage other people to get checked out."Les Scott, 64, from Telford, says he has finally got his life back, after discovering symptoms of bladder cancer the day before his wedding in 2017. Although the ceremony went ahead, the diagnosis meant he put his life on hold and surgery to replace both hips was bus driver had got down to 17st from 24st ahead of his wedding. Just as he was about to return to work after cancer treatment and hip operations, he fell off a stepladder, breaking the metal stem in a new months of using a scooter and crutches, Mr Scott plans to walk Cancer Research UK's 10k Race for Life at Telford Town Park on Arriva driver said: "I thought I had cystitis, but I went to the chemist the day before my wedding and got told men can't get that." Mr Scott stated his wife was worried, because her first husband died of cancer, but "I just decided to put myself in the hands of the doctors".He added: "They told me that bladder cancer is often diagnosed late in men because they don't speak up about their symptoms."Test results showed he had stage four bladder cancer and needed BCG treatment – originally developed as a tuberculosis vaccine, but later developed into an immunotherapy cancer treatment. Mr Scott said: "Initially doctors said they were going to take my bladder out, but they didn't think I'd survive the operation."I had BCG treatment... I was really scared but, thanks to improvements in research and treatment, I've survived to tell the tale." During cancer treatment, he went up to 20st (127kg)."I was told I had to lose three stone before my hip surgery in 2019 which I did but, when I went for my second hip replacement, I was told to lose another four stone." Mr Scott took part in last year's 10k Telford Race and will raise funds in memory of his mother, who died of cancer, to thank researchers for treatment that saved his it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part in Race for Life. He said: "It's been tough, but I feel like I've got my life back now." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Medscape
23-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
FDA Questions Single-Arm Studies for Cancer Approvals
The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) approval decision about a new treatment for non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) hinges on whether a single-armed trial can be trusted to adequately demonstrate risks and benefits. The issue came to a head May 21 when the agency asked its Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) to weigh in on UGN-102 (UroGen Pharma), an intravesical mitomycin formulation meant to be an alternative to transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) for recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk NMIBC. UroGen presented results from its ENVISION trial in 223 patients with recurrent lesions on day 2 of a meeting of the FDA advisory committee. After 6 weekly 75 mg instillations, the complete response rate at the 3-month checkup was 77.6%. Twelve months after a complete response, almost 80% of subjects remained recurrence-free; at 18 months, just over half were still recurrence-free. UroGen highlighted the convenience of UGN-102, which can be instilled in a urologist's office, over TURBT, which is a surgical procedure usually done under general anesthesia. The company said UGN-102 'can reduce the burden of repeated TURBTs' in elderly, comorbid patients. However, there was no control arm in ENVISION, so outcomes vs TURBT, the current standard of care, are unclear. 'The lack of a concurrent control in the single-arm ENVISION trial makes interpretation of efficacy challenging,' the FDA said in a meeting document. Although the complete response rate indicates drug activity, the agency said the durations of response found in the study could simply be due to the fact that some patients with NMBIC recur, while others do not. The same holds true for safety. Most of the adverse events in the trial were genitourinary and low grade, but it's unclear if there are fewer than with TURBT. For one, patients were at risk for adverse events throughout the entire 6-week treatment window, whereas the duration of side effects with TURBT, as a single procedure, is generally shorter. 'The applicant has not demonstrated that treatment with UGN-102 is safer or more tolerable than TURBT,' the FDA said in the document. The FDA wanted UroGen to run a head-to-head randomized trial against TURBT. UroGen started one, but there was disagreement with the agency about how it should be conducted, and the trial ended early. How Committee Members Voted on Benefits vs Risks for UGN-102 On day 2 of the ODAC meeting, the FDA said the preliminary findings can't be used to compare the two approaches due to methodological issues. Richard Pazdur, MD, head of FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, said there are also larger issues at play. If the agency approves UGN-102 for such a condition as common as NMIBC based on a single-arm study, 'guess what? Nobody's going to do a randomized trial. It goes to the lowest denominator for companies,' Pazdur said. The FDA didn't ask ODAC's opinion on approving UGN-102. Instead, it simply wanted committee members to vote on whether the overall benefit-risk of UGN-102 is favorable for recurrent, low-grade, intermediate-risk NMIBC based on the data. Five panelists voted 'no,' and four voted 'yes.' Radiation oncologist Daniel Spratt, MD, a prostate cancer specialist at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, was one of the 'no' votes. Without the randomized trial, he said, 'It's very hard to determine the true benefit of this, and there is toxicity.' Plus, 'this is a $140,000 treatment that might not change how many follow-up TURBTs you need after 3 months.' Another 'no' vote, Heidi McKean, MD, a community oncologist in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said that 'in this population, a randomized control trial is feasible and would have really helped us understand the clinical meaningfulness of the intervention.' Surgical oncologist Mark Ball, MD, a kidney cancer specialist at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, voted 'yes' in favor of UGN-102. The complete response rate at 12 months and beyond, 'even though there are differences in the interpretation of the data, is quite encouraging. I don't find the toxicity profile alarming, and therefore,' Ball said, 'the benefit-risk ratio is favorable.' Isla Garraway, MD, PhD, a urologic surgical oncologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, also voted 'yes,' saying it would be ideal to have a less invasive, in-office alternative to TURBT for the older patients most often affected by NMIBC. In the end, Pazdur said, 'This a relatively split vote, so we will be meeting with the sponsor to look at future directions.' ODAC was also asked for its thoughts on whether the FDA should require randomized trials for future low-grade, intermediate-risk NMIBC approval submissions. Committee members generally agreed, as long as the requirement doesn't delay the approval of promising treatments.
