Kingman, Arizona, June 30, 2020 –Kingman Regional Medical Center’s WL Nugent Cancer Center has begun using a new method to treat certain patients with bladder cancer. The Cancer Center now has the capability to deliver chemotherapy directly to the bladder through a catheter, in a process called intravesicular chemotherapy.

Traditionally, patients receive intravenous (IV) chemotherapy – chemotherapy in the whole body through an IV.

With the intravesicle method, a liquid chemotherapy drug is injected through a catheter directly into the bladder. This enables the drug to attack cancer cells in the bladder without having major effects on the rest of the body.

Kari Wheeler, RN is a nurse who specializes in oncology, or cancer care. Wheeler completed dedicated research and training to be able to provide this treatment option for patients at the WL Nugent Cancer Center.

For now, just one patient has received treatment this way and is responding well, said Wheeler. The Cancer Center can accommodate additional patients for this treatment as needed. Intravesicular chemotherapy is intended for patients with non-invasive bladder cancer whose tumors that have not invaded the bladder wall.

For more information on treatment capabilities at the WL Nugent Cancer Center, visit azkrmc.com/services/cancer-center.

About Kingman Regional Medical Center

(KRMC) is a 235-bed multi-campus health care system in Kingman, Arizona that employs over 1,900 employees, 150 volunteers, and 270 physicians/allied health professionals. KRMC is the largest provider of health and wellness services in northwestern Arizona. It is home to an advanced imaging center, cancer center, cardiovascular center, rehabilitation and balance center, wound care center, sleep disorders center, acute rehabilitation specialty hospital, primary and specialty care clinics, hospice home, and beautiful wellness center. KRMC is also a teaching hospital offering residencies in emergency medicine and family medicine and a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. The hospital received the Arizona Innovation Award for its efforts to proactively enhance healthcare in a rural community. The hospital’s vision is to provide the region’s best clinical care and patient service through an environment that fosters respect for others and pride in performance. ​