The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of 125I particles implantation in the treatment of recurrent bladder cancer. The study is a retrospective analysis of 32 patients with recurrent bladder cancer treated between May 2010 and January 2010. Of these, 16 cases (chemotherapy group) received conventional chemotherapy. A total of 16 patients (125I group) received radiotherapy with 125I particles, followed by conventional chemotherapy. By guidance of B ultrasound, 125I radioactive particles were implanted. All 32 patients were relieved after treatment, and the tumors were significantly reduced after 2 months. However, the tumors in the 125I group were significantly smaller than those in the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). The patients were followed-up for 1 year and no recurrence was found. Additionally, no complications occurred. Compared with the chemotherapy group, the tumor volume of the 125I group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The disease-free survival and 5-year survival rates of the patients in the follow-up showed that the disease-free survival and 5-year survival rates of the patients in 125I group were significantly improved compared to those in the chemotherapy group. Therefore, the results have shown that 125I radioactive particles in the treatment of bladder cancer improve the symptoms of patients with bladder cancer in the short term, and continuously kill residual tumor and prevent recurrence.