Navigating Treatment Conversations After an NMIBC Diagnosis

(BPT) - Sponsored by Ferring Pharmaceuticals

A diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) can quickly lead to new questions: What does this mean? What are my options? How will treatment fit into my life? With information coming from medical teams, online resources, loved ones and educational materials, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Dr. Anne Schuckman, Associate Professor of Clinical Urology and Director of Urologic Oncology at LA General Hospital, encourages people diagnosed with NMIBC and their loved ones to come prepared, ask questions and focus on what matters most to them.

"As the NMIBC treatment landscape evolves, people diagnosed with bladder cancer and their loved ones are making very personal decisions about care," said Dr. Schuckman. "Asking questions can help them understand not only what a treatment does, but how it may align with their priorities and long-term goals."

Making sense of bladder cancer information

Misconceptions about NMIBC can make treatment decisions harder. Some people may assume one approach is right for everyone or that bladder removal is the only remaining option if an initial treatment has not worked.

Today, some people diagnosed with NMIBC may have more options to discuss with their healthcare provider, including what treatments are available, how treatments work, how often they are given, what follow-up is needed, possible side effects and how treatment may fit into daily life.¹

For example, one option may be ADSTILADRIN^® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg), a prescription medicine for the treatment of adults with NMIBC whose cancer has not spread or responded to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment.² It is delivered directly into the bladder in an outpatient setting every three months and, for some people, may be part of a treatment plan that does not involve bladder removal.²

Like other medicines administered into the bladder for the treatment of certain bladder cancers, ADSTILADRIN may cause side effects.² The most common side effects include urinary discharge, fatigue, bladder spasm, urgency to urinate, and blood in your urine. People should talk with their healthcare provider to understand its potential risks and benefits.²

Building a support network

Having a good support network can reshape a patient's treatment experience. Along with doctors, nurses and loved ones, insurance and reimbursement assistance teams and advocacy organizations can help people navigate care. That support may be needed long after initial treatment.

In a recent survey of people living with bladder cancer, 79% said fear of recurrence defines the survivor experience, and 57% said they had never received a survivorship care plan despite 86% believing one was important.³ A survivorship care plan is a personalized document developed with your care team that explains what follow-up care and testing you may need, how to manage side effects, ways to stay healthy and what to watch for over time.

"People may not realize which resources are available to them," said Dr. Schuckman. "Their care team can help connect them with support, and loved ones can help them prepare for more productive conversations."

Questions that can guide the discussion

There is no single way to evaluate NMIBC treatment options.¹ These questions can help start the conversation:

• What is the stage of my cancer?
• What factors should I consider when choosing among my treatment options?
• How might each treatment fit into my daily life and care routine?
• What type of follow-up care or monitoring will be needed?
• Should I have a survivorship care plan, and what should it include?
• Are there treatment options that may help me avoid or delay bladder removal?
• Who can help me prepare for and make treatment decisions?

"You do not need to walk into an appointment being an expert in bladder cancer," said Dr. Schuckman. "What is most important is being ready to ask questions, share your priorities and work with your physician and their team to identify an approach that fits your needs."

For more information about ADSTILADRIN, please see Important Safety Information below and for Full Prescribing Information, visit https://www.adstiladrin.com/.

What is ADSTILADRIN?

ADSTILADRIN is a prescription medicine for the treatment of adults with a type of cancer of the lining of the bladder called non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), that has not spread to other parts of the body, and that did not respond to treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Who should not receive ADSTILADRIN?

Do not receive ADSTILADRIN if you have a sensitivity to interferon alfa or any of its components.

What is the most important information I should know about ADSTILADRIN?

• Delaying removal of the bladder in patients with bladder cancer that is not responding to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy Carcinoma in situ (CIS) could lead to development of muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancer. The risk increases the longer bladder removal is delayed in the presence of persisting CIS.
• Individuals who are immunosuppressed or immune-deficient should not prepare, administer, receive or come into contact with ADSTILADRIN.

What are the possible side effects of ADSTILADRIN?

The most common side effects of ADSTILADRIN include: Urinary discharge, fatigue, bladder spasm, urgency to urinate, and blood in your urine. These are not all the possible side effects of ADSTILADRIN. For more information, ask your healthcare provider.

What should I tell my healthcare provider?

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

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.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

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