Lacey’s journey with recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
(BPT) - For Lacey, life has always been about cherishing quality time, whether it's spent with her four grandchildren, a good book, or in the kitchen baking. That rhythm was disrupted when persistent incontinence began to interfere with her daily life. After a series of tests, Lacey was faced with a harsh new reality: a diagnosis of recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC).
"When I found out, I was shocked," Lacey recalls. "That diagnosis turned my life upside down."
Navigating a cancer that keeps coming back
LG-IR-NMIBC is a highly recurrent type of bladder cancer that develops in the bladder lining and has not spread into the muscle wall. While it is generally slow growing, it often requires ongoing treatment.1-3 LG-IR-NMIBC affects around 82,000 people in the U.S. each year, with an estimated 59,000 cases involving recurrent disease.1-4 Bladder cancer is most often diagnosed in older adults, many of whom are also managing other health conditions.
"Recurrence is one of the defining challenges of the disease," explains Brian Hu, MD, Associate Professor of Urology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Lacey's urologist. "Even when tumors are considered lower risk, they have a strong tendency to return, which means patients may face treatment again and again."
Up to 70% of people with NMIBC will experience at least one recurrence, and patients with LG-IR-NMIBC are even more likely to face repeated recurrences over time.5,6 The current standard of care for recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), a surgical procedure to remove tumors from the bladder.1-3,6
"Each recurrence usually means another TURBT," Dr. Hu explains. "That often involves anesthesia, recovery time, and frequent follow-ups, which can be really taxing for many patients, especially when it happens over and over again."
For Lacey, her cancer was coming back every three months. Facing a pattern of repeat procedures and ongoing monitoring began to shape her everyday life, with the physical and emotional toll adding up.
Discovering a new treatment option
As part of her treatment discussions, Dr. Hu introduced Lacey to a clinical trial evaluating ZUSDURI™ (mitomycin) for intravesical solution, a medication used to treat adults with recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC after prior bladder surgery to remove the tumor(s) did not work or is no longer working.
ZUSDURI combines mitomycin, a chemotherapy medication, with a proprietary reverse-thermal hydrogel technology (RTGel®). ZUSDURI is delivered directly into the bladder through a tube called a urinary catheter, typically in a doctor's office or outpatient clinic, with no need for general anesthesia or surgery. Administered as a liquid, ZUSDURI changes into a gel at body temperature and releases mitomycin into the bladder, allowing it to remain in contact with the tumor for chemoablation. It is given once-a-week for six weeks and slowly dissolves and is flushed out in urine. Patients should avoid contact with urine for at least 24 hours post-instillation.
ZUSDURI was approved for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC based on the ENVISION clinical trial, which evaluated its safety and efficacy. Among recurrent LG-IR-NMIBC patients treated once-a-week for six weeks, 78% had no detectable cancer at three months and 79% of these patients remained tumor-free for at least one year later (range of 0-25+ months).7 The most common side effects of ZUSDURI include: increased blood creatinine levels, increased blood potassium levels, trouble with urination, decreased red blood cell counts, increase in certain blood liver tests, increased or decreased white blood cell counts, urinary tract infection, blood in your urine. You should not receive ZUSDURI if you have a hole or tear (perforation) of your bladder or if you have had an allergic reaction to mitomycin or to any of the ingredients in ZUSDURI. Read the Important Safety Information below.
Looking ahead after treatment
For Lacey, the idea of trying something new felt like a turning point.
"My first experience with the treatment process was fascinating," she says. "It was exciting because I was part of something new, something that might help me, but other people too."
After completing treatment with ZUSDURI, Lacey has been cancer-free for over two years and she reflects on her journey with gratitude for having another option.
"I really believe that good things come when science excels," she says.
To see more of Lacey's story, visit: https://www.zusduri.com/patient/resources/#patient-stories. Lacey and Dr. Hu were compensated for participating in this interview.
Individuals with LG-IR-NMIBC, including those who have experienced repeat recurrences and have previously received bladder surgery to remove tumor and it did not work or is no longer working, should talk with their doctor about all available treatments, including ZUSDURI. To learn more about ZUSDURI and access resources designed to support patients through the treatment-coordination process, visit https://www.zusduri.com/patient/ and speak with your healthcare provider.
APPROVED USE FOR ZUSDURI
ZUSDURI™ (mitomycin) for intravesical solution is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of cancer of the lining of the bladder called low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC) after previously receiving bladder surgery to remove tumor that did not work or is no longer working.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
You should not receive ZUSDURI if you have a hole or tear (perforation) of your bladder or if you have had an allergic reaction to mitomycin or to any of the ingredients in ZUSDURI.
Before receiving ZUSDURI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have kidney problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ZUSDURI can harm your unborn baby. You should not become pregnant during treatment with ZUSDURI. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with ZUSDURI.
Females who are able to become pregnant:You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ZUSDURI and for 6 months after the last dose.
Males being treated with ZUSDURI:You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ZUSDURI and for 3 months after the last dose. - are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZUSDURI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with ZUSDURI and for 1 week after the last dose.
How will I receive ZUSDURI?
- You will receive your ZUSDURI dose from your healthcare provider 1 time a week for 6 weeks into your bladder through a tube called a urinary catheter. It is important that you receive all 6 doses of ZUSDURI according to your healthcare provider's instructions.
- If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.
- During treatment with ZUSDURI, your healthcare provider may tell you to take additional medicines or change how you take your current medicines.
After receiving ZUSDURI:
- ZUSDURI may cause your urine color to change to a violet to blue color. Avoid contact between your skin and urine for at least 24 hours.
- To urinate, males and females should siton a toilet and flush the toilet several times after you use it. After going to the bathroom, wash your hands, your inner thighs, and genital area well with soap and water.
- Clothing that comes in contact with urine should be washed right away and washed separately from other clothing.
The most common side effects of ZUSDURI include:increased blood creatinine levels, increased blood potassium levels, trouble with urination, decreased red blood cell counts, increase in certain blood liver tests, increased or decreased white blood cell counts, urinary tract infection, and blood in your urine.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to UroGen Pharma at 1-855-987-6436.
Please seeZUSDURI Full Prescribing Information, including the Patient Information, for additional information.
ZUSDURI™ is a trademark and UroGen® is a registered trademark of UroGen Pharma, Ltd.
Copyright©2025 UroGen Pharma, Inc. All rights reserved.
1. Chevli KK, Shore ND, Trainer A, et al. Primary Chemoablation of Low-Grade Intermediate-Risk Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Using UGN-102, a Mitomycin-Containing Reverse Thermal Gel (Optima II): A Phase 2b, Open-Label, Single-Arm Trial. J Urol. 2022 Jan;207(1):61-69. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002186
2. Babjuk M, Burger M, Comperat EM, et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (TaT1 and Carcinoma In Situ). Eur Urol. 2019 Nov;76(5):639-657. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2019.08.016
3. Simon M, Bosset PO, Rouanne M, et al. Multiple recurrences and risk of disease progression in patients with primary low-grade (TaG1) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and with low and intermediate EORTC-risk score. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 27;14(2):e0211721. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0211721
4. SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Bladder Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/urinb.html.
5. Bladder Cancer Stages. American Cancer Society. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://www.cancer.gov/types/bladder/stages.
6. Filon M, Schmidt B. New Treatment Options for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 45, e471942(2025). doi:10.1200/EDBK-25-471942
7. Prasad SM, Shishkov D, Mihaylov NV, et al. Primary Chemoablation of Recurrent Low-Grade Intermediate-Risk Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer With UGN-102: A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Phase 3 Trial (ENVISION). J Urol. 2025;213(2):205-216. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000004296
US-ZUS-00307 04/2026
Source: BrandPoint
