How is bladder cancer treated?

A cystoscopy lets a clinician inspect the bladder and may allow removal of a visible tumour for laboratory examination. This helps show whether cancer is limited to the inner lining or has invaded the bladder muscle. Imaging and other tests assess nearby tissues and distant spread.

Lining-limited disease may be treated through the urinary passage, followed by medicine placed directly into the bladder, such as intravesical BCG therapy. Deeper or higher-risk disease may require bladder removal surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or combinations. Follow-up cystoscopies may be needed because new tumours can develop.

Bring details of urinary symptoms, previous infections, medicines and earlier procedures. Ask how the tumour was sampled, whether muscle was included in the specimen and what the staging tests show. If bladder removal is discussed, ask about urinary diversion, recovery, body image, sexual function and practical support at home.

Arrange prompt assessment for blood in urine, repeated urinary infections or new difficulty passing urine. Seek urgent help if you cannot pass urine, have heavy bleeding or clots, severe lower abdominal pain, or fever with chills after a procedure or during treatment.

Ask whether the cancer is non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive, what grade and stage were found, which treatments are suitable, how recurrence will be monitored, and how treatment may change urination and sexual health.