This type of drug treatment uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. In muscle-invasive bladder cancer, immunotherapy drugs may be used with chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant treatment) or after surgery (adjuvant treatment).
How immunotherapy is given
Immunotherapy is given in the same way as chemotherapy.
Learn more about chemotherapy.
Side effects of immunotherapy
This treatment may trigger an immune response that leads to side effects anywhere in the body. Other
side effects include:
- fatigue
- headaches
- nausea
- vomitting
Learn more about immunotherapy.
Find information on chemotherapy in Arabic, Greek, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
→ READ MORE: Radiation therapy for bladder cancer
Video: What is immunotherapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about immunotherapy (Open settings 
to turn on auto-generated subtitles in your language).
Podcast: Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Prof Manish Patel, Urological Cancer and Robotic Surgeon, Westmead Hospital, Macquarie University Hospital, and The University of Sydney, NSW. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Donna Clifford, Urology Nurse Practitioner, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Marc Diocera, Genitourinary Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Renee Finnigan, Radiation Oncologist, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Lisa Hann, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Andrew Hirschhorn, Director of Allied Health and MQ Health Academy, MQ Health, Macquarie University, NSW; Anne Marie Lyons, Stomal Therapy Nurse, Concord Hospital and NSW Stoma Limited, NSW; John McDonald, Consumer; Prof Manish Patel (see above); Dr Jason Paterdis, Urological Surgeon, Brisbane Urology Clinic, QLD; Dr Prassannah Satasivam, Urologist and Robotic Surgeon, Epworth Hospitals and Cabrini Hospitals, VIC Graeme Sissing, Consumer; Prof Martin Stockler, Medical Oncologist, The University of Sydney, Concord Cancer Centre, and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse RPA, NSW.
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