A new survey undertaken by the Harris Poll for Johnson & Johnson has shown how standard forms of surgery and treatment for certain bladder cancer patients are causing a major long-term emotional impact.
The typical treatment route for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who don’t respond to standard-of-care Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy is a radical cystectomy to remove the entire bladder. It's a life-altering and risky procedure that's not appropriate for many patients.
But the new survey found that many patients who undergo the procedure, as well as the BCG drug treatment, suffered a “physical, mental, and emotional toll,” according to a May 14 release.
Key findings show that more than 9 in 10 patients who underwent radical cystectomy report at least some negative physical, mental and emotional health impacts, followed by reports of negative impacts on participation in daily activities (94%), body image (93%) and self-esteem (90%).
There were similar findings among those who received BCG, a type of immunotherapy drug given directly into the bladder.
Respondents reported loss of control over their body (80%) and loss of dignity or sense of self (69%), with three‑quarters (76%) describing managing the treatment‑related physical symptoms as humiliating.
Released ahead of the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, the findings “highlight patient experiences that may not always be fully surfaced and discussed during care, pointing to opportunities to strengthen support and continue advancing innovative treatment approaches,” according to J&J.
The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with the International Bladder Cancer Group, the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, and examined the experiences of 817 patients with NMIBC, as well as 802 urologists.
J&J markets Inlexzo (TAR-200), which was approved by the FDA last September to treat patients with BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC with carcinoma in situ, with or without papillary tumors.
The drug-releasing system combo allows for extended release of the chemotherapy gemcitabine directly into patients' bladders via an intravesical system that can be placed in minutes in an outpatient setting, with no general anesthesia needed.
In an interview with Fierce Pharma Marketing, Christopher Cutie, M.D., Vice President, Disease Area Leader, Bladder Cancer, Johnson & Johnson, explained that: “This survey does not measure awareness of any specific treatment” but was focused on what doctors and patients have to “say about today’s care experience.”
He said the “bottom line” findings “deepen our understanding of what it’s like to live with this disease and point to ways to improve care, so treatment decisions better reflect patients’ priorities and quality of life.”
He added that the survey “suggests bladder cancer care can’t be judged by clinical outcomes alone. Quality of life and day-to-day impact are central to the care conversation.
“As a urologist myself, it was eye-opening to see that many patients don’t feel fully comfortable raising the emotional toll of the disease and treatment, even when those impacts are significant.”