The authors report the preliminary results of attempts at treatment using radiotherapy and chemotherapy for inoperable carcinoma of the bladder. Chemotherapy alone (cis diamine dichloropalatinum : CDDP) used twice for metastases gave 1 regression of more than 50 % and 1 failure, used twice for non-irradiated pelvic tumours gave 1 regression of more than 50 % and finally was associated with no improvement in 7 patients already irradiated. Chemotherapy (CDDP) associated with a series of flash doses of radiotherapy was used in 6 cases and gave one regression of more than 50 % and one of less than 50 %. Bleomycin in continuous infusion associated with flash radiotherapy was used in 3 cases and gave a regression of more than 50 % of pelvic tumours in two. These poor though not completely nil results have lead the authors to develop a cooperative treatment programme involving the urologist, radiotherapist and chemotherapist.