Chemotherapy With or Without Surgery in Treating Patients With Bladder Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Cytologically confirmed solitary primary or recurrent papillary transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder * Ta or T1 * Tumor no greater than 2 cm in diameter * Negative urine cytology * No suspicious lesions in bladder requiring biopsy * No tumors in the prostatic urethra or upper urinary tract * No prior history of T1 G3 tumors, muscle invasive tumors (T2 or greater), or carcinoma in situ PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 80 and under Performance status * WHO 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Not specified Hepatic * Not specified Renal * Not specified Other * HIV negative * No active intractable or uncontrollable bladder infection * No urethral strictures that would preclude endoscopic procedures or repeated catheterization * No prior or concurrent congenital or acquired immune deficiency syndrome * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except cured basal cell skin cancer or intraepithelial cancer of the cervix * No prior or concurrent leukemia or Hodgkin's disease * No concurrent disease for which general anesthesia is contraindicated * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance * Not pregnant or nursing PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 12 months since prior BCG vaccine Chemotherapy * At least 1 year since prior mitomycin Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * No prior pelvic radiotherapy Surgery * No prior …