Bladder Cancer

How is the disease diagnosed?

Often a person who notices blood in the urine will see a healthcare provider. Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical exam. A urine sample will be checked for cancer cells. An X-ray of the bladder, called intravenous urogram or IVU, is routinely part of the diagnostic work-up. The provider may also do a cystoscopy, looking at the inside of the bladder with a thin, lighted tube.

If a tumor is seen, the provider will do a biopsy to take a piece of it for examination. If the cancer is confirmed, more surgery may be necessary to investigate how deep the cancer has grown into the bladder wall. Other studies such as CT scans may be done to determine the extent of the problem. This is known as staging.