Common symptoms
- Painless blood in the urine, the most common sign
- Burning or frequent urination without infection
- Urgent need to pass urine
- Pain in the lower abdomen or back in advanced cases
What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer starts in the lining of the urinary bladder. Most bladder cancers are found when they are still confined to the inner lining (non-muscle-invasive), when treatment is most effective. Some cancers grow into the bladder muscle and need more extensive treatment.
Risk factors
- Smoking, the biggest risk factor
- Exposure to certain industrial chemicals (dyes, rubber, leather, paints)
- Increasing age and male sex
- Long-term bladder irritation or previous pelvic radiation
How is it diagnosed?
- Urine tests, including urine cytology
- Ultrasound or CT urography
- Cystoscopy, a look inside the bladder with a thin telescope
- TURBT, which removes the tumour and confirms the diagnosis
Treatment options
- TURBT, which is both a diagnostic test and the first treatment.
- Intravesical therapy: BCG or chemotherapy placed directly into the bladder to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back.
- Regular check cystoscopies, because bladder cancer can recur.
- Radical cystectomy: removal of the bladder with creation of a new way for urine to leave the body, for muscle-invasive or high-risk disease.
- Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, planned with the oncology team.
When to see a urologist
See a urologist promptly if you notice blood in your urine, even once, especially if you are over 40 or a smoker.
Treatments offered
- Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT)
- Intravesical therapy (BCG or chemotherapy into the bladder)
- Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion
- Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in coordination with oncology
Frequently asked questions
Is blood in the urine always serious?
Not always. It can be caused by infection or stones. But visible blood in the urine, even once and even without pain, should always be checked by a urologist, because it can be the first sign of bladder or kidney cancer.
What is TURBT?
TURBT stands for transurethral resection of bladder tumour. It is done through the urinary passage with a telescope, with no cut on the skin. It removes the tumour and provides tissue to find out the type and depth of the cancer.
Does smoking cause bladder cancer?
Smoking is the single most important risk factor for bladder cancer. Stopping smoking lowers the risk and is important even after diagnosis.
This page is general information and not a substitute for a consultation. Every patient is different, and the right treatment depends on an individual assessment.