Symptoms
- Painless blood in urine
- Frequency and urgency
- Burning urination not responding to antibiotics
- Pelvic pain in advanced disease
Causes and risk factors
- Genetic damage to bladder lining cells, most often from tobacco chemicals
Diagnosis
- Urine cytology
- Ultrasound and CT urography
- Cystoscopy with biopsy
- TURBT for staging and grade
Treatment
- TURBT — endoscopic tumour removal
- Intravesical BCG or chemotherapy
- Radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive disease
- Chemotherapy and immunotherapy in advanced cases
Prevention
- Stop smoking — the single most effective step
- Use protection with occupational chemicals
- Investigate blood in urine promptly
- Keep to surveillance cystoscopy schedules
Recovery
TURBT is usually a one to two day admission. Superficial disease needs regular surveillance cystoscopy for several years because recurrence is common.
Information on this website is for patient education only and does not replace an in-person consultation. Treatment results vary between individuals and no outcome is guaranteed.