how can you detect bladder cancer

Common tests & procedures

MRI images are very useful in showing cancer that has spread outside of the bladder into nearby tissues or lymph nodes. A special MRI of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, known as an MRI urogram, can be used instead of an IVP to look at the upper part of the urinary system. Ultrasound

What are the early warning signs of bladder cancer?

Stages and Outlook (Prognosis) After a cancer diagnosis, staging provides important information about the extent (amount) of cancer in the body and the likely response to treatment. Bladder Cancer Stages. Survival Rates for Bladder Cancer.

Do you know the early signs of bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer can often be found early because it causes blood in the urine or other urinary symptoms that cause a person to see a health care provider. Blood in the urine. In most cases, blood in the urine (called hematuria) is the first sign of bladder cancer. There may be enough blood to change the color of the urine to orange, pink, or, less often, dark red.

How do you rule out bladder cancer?

 · Imaging Techniques To Detect Bladder Cancer Imaging techniques, which include ultrasound, computed tomography (or CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) and x-ray approaches, provide an important means of assessing the urinary tract, including the kidneys, and play an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of bladder cancer.

What is the best test for bladder cancer?

Tests for bladder cancer look for different substances and/or cancer cells in the urine. Urinalysis: One way to test for bladder cancer is to check for blood in the urine ( hematuria ). This can be done during a urinalysis, which is a simple test to check for blood and other substances in a sample of urine.

Can bladder cancer be detected with a urine test?

Urinalysis can help find some bladder cancers early, but it has not been shown to be useful as a routine screening test. Urine cytology: In this test, a microscope is used to look for cancer cells in urine. Urine cytology does find some cancers, but it’s not reliable enough to make a good screening test.

How do you confirm bladder cancer?

Cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is the key diagnostic procedure for bladder cancer. It allows the doctor to see inside the body with a thin, lighted, flexible tube called a cystoscope. Flexible cystoscopy is performed in a doctor’s office and does not require anesthesia, which is medication that blocks the awareness of pain.

How is bladder cancer detected early?

Watching for possible symptoms of bladder cancer No screening tests are recommended for people at average risk, but bladder cancer can be found early because it causes blood in the urine or other urinary symptoms.

What is the most reliable test for detecting bladder cancer?

Pathology Tests The most efficient, noninvasive and inexpensive test is a urinalysis/cytology. Here, a sample of urine is taken from the patient and evaluated for cancer cells, red and white blood cells (which fight urinary tract infections), and microscopic hematuria or infection.

Do you feel ill with bladder cancer?

Nausea and vomiting. Burning or pain when you urinate, feeling the need to go often, or blood in urine. Diarrhea. Feeling tired.

Does bladder cancer feel like a UTI?

Bladder cancer can be mistaken for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) because many of the symptoms overlap. Patients may experience increased frequency and urgency of urination, pain with urination, or urinary incontinence.

Can an xray show bladder cancer?

A chest x-ray may be done to see if the bladder cancer has spread to the lungs. This test is not needed if a CT scan of the chest has been done.

Is there pain with bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer can cause changes in urination. You might experience pain or a burning sensation when you urinate, and you may see blood in your urine. You may also feel: an urge to urinate more frequently than you used to.

Can CT scan detect bladder cancer?

A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create three-dimensional, cross-sectional pictures of the bladder, as well as the ureters and kidneys. A CT scan may be used to see whether bladder cancer has invaded the bladder wall or has spread to other organs or nearby lymph nodes.

Can bladder cancer be seen on ultrasound?

How do ultrasounds help detect and monitor bladder cancer? An ultrasound of the urinary tract can help assess the size of a bladder tumor and whether a bladder cancer has spread. Ultrasound is able to differentiate between fluid-filled cysts and solid tumors, however, it cannot determine if a tumor is cancerous.

How painful is a cystoscopy?

People often worry that a cystoscopy will be painful, but it does not usually hurt. Tell your doctor or nurse if you feel any pain during it. It can be a bit uncomfortable and you may feel like you need to pee during the procedure, but this will only last a few minutes.

What age does bladder cancer occur?

Bladder cancer occurs mainly in older people. About 9 out of 10 people with this cancer are over the age of 55. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 73. Overall, the chance men will develop this cancer during their life is about 1 in 27.

What is staging after cancer diagnosis?

After a cancer diagnosis, staging provides important information about the extent (amount) of cancer in the body and the likely response to treatment.

Why is it important to find cancer early?

Finding cancer early, when it’s small and hasn’t spread, often allows for more treatment options. Some early cancers may have signs and symptoms that can be noticed, but that’s not always the case.

How do you know if you have bladder cancer?

Bladder cancers that have grown large or have spread to other parts of the body can sometimes cause other symptoms, such as: Being unable to urinate. Lower back pain on one side. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Feeling tired or weak.

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

Being unable to urinate. Lower back pain on one side. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Feeling tired or weak. Swelling in the feet. Bone pain. Again, many of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than bladder cancer, but it’s important to have them checked.

Can bladder cancer cause bleeding?

Usually, the early stages of bladder cancer (when it’s small and only in the bladder) cause bleeding but little or no pain or other symptoms. Blood in the urine doesn’t always mean you have bladder cancer.

Can bladder cancer spread to other parts of the body?

Bladder cancers that have grown large or have spread to other parts of the body can sometimes cause other symptoms, such as: Again, many of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than bladder cancer, but it’s important to have them checked.

Can bladder cancer cause lower back pain?

Bladder cancers that have grown large or have spread to other parts of the body can sometimes cause other symptoms, such as: Being unable to urinate. Lower back pain on one side. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Feeling tired or weak.

What does it mean when you have blood in your urine?

Blood in the urine. In most cases, blood in the urine (called hematuria) is the first sign of bladder cancer. There may be enough blood to change the color of the urine to orange, pink, or, less often, dark red.

Is urine a normal color?

Sometimes, the color of the urine is normal but small amounts of blood are found when a urine test (urinalysis) is done because of other symptoms or as part of a general medical check-up. Blood may be present one day and absent the next, with the urine remaining clear for weeks or even months.

Imaging Techniques To Detect Bladder Cancer

Imaging techniques, which include ultrasound, computed tomography (or CT) scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) and x-ray approaches, provide an important means of assessing the urinary tract, including the kidneys, and play an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of bladder cancer.

Detecting bladder cancer with ultrasound

An ultrasound (which may also be referred to as a sonogram) uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of internal organs. Echoes, which are created as sound waves bounce off organs and tissues, produce computer images that provide information on the structure and movement of organs and the blood flow through vessels.

How do ultrasounds help detect and monitor bladder cancer?

An ultrasound of the urinary tract can help assess the size of a bladder tumor and whether a bladder cancer has spread. Ultrasound is able to differentiate between fluid-filled cysts and solid tumors, however, it cannot determine if a tumor is cancerous. Ultrasound can also be used to guide a biopsy needle to sample a suspected cancer.

Detecting bladder cancer with CT scans

A CT scan uses x-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of the body. Compared to a general x-ray test, which directs a broad x-ray beam from a single angle, the CT scan uses a number of thin beams to produce a series of images from different angles.

Other imaging approaches to detect or monitor bladder cancer

An MRI scan uses radio waves and magnets to produce more detailed pictures of soft tissues. MRI scans can show whether bladder cancer has spread to other tissues or to the lymph nodes. To improve the quality of the images it’s sometimes necessary to administer an intravenous dye.

How to test for bladder cancer?

Urinalysis: One way to test for bladder cancer is to check for blood in the urine ( hematuria ). This can be done during a urinalysis, which is a simple test to check for blood and other substances in a sample of urine. This test is sometimes done as part of a general health check-up.

What tests are done to detect bladder cancer?

Urine tests for tumor markers: Newer tests look for certain substances in urine that might be a sign of bladder cancer. These include: UroVysion™: This test looks for chromosome changes that are often seen in bladder cancer cells. BTA tests: These tests look for a substance called bladder tumor-associated antigen (BTA), also known as CFHrp, …

Can bladder cancer be found early?

Bladder cancer can sometimes be found early — when it’s small and hasn’t spread beyond the bladder. Finding it early improves your chances that treatment will work.

Why do we need to do a bladder screening?

This is because no screening test has been shown to lower the risk of dying from bladder cancer in people who are at average risk.

Is there a screening for bladder cancer?

At this time, no major professional organizations recommend routine screening of the general public for bladder cancer. This is because no screening test has been shown to lower the risk of dying from bladder cancer in people who are at average risk.

Can a urine cytology test detect bladder cancer?

Urinalysis can help find some bladder cancers early, but it has not been shown to be useful as a routine screening test. Urine cytology: In this test, a microscope is used to look for cancer cells in urine. Urine cytology does find some cancers, but it’s not reliable enough to make a good screening test. Urine tests for tumor markers: Newer tests …

What causes blood in urine?

This test is sometimes done as part of a general health check-up. Blood in the urine is usually caused by benign (non-cancer) problems, like infections, but it also can be the first sign of bladder cancer. Large amounts of blood in urine can be seen if the urine turns pink or red, but a urinalysis can find even small amounts.

Detecting Bladder Cancer with a Urine Test

Urine is made up of several components including water and waste materials filtered from the blood by the kidneys, as well as small numbers of cells such as epithelial cells shed from the lining of the urinary tract and possibly red and white blood cells.

What can be detected in a urine test?

Urine testing can assist in diagnosing many different disorders including kidney disease, diabetes, liver disorders, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bladder cancer.

How are samples collected?

Requirements for urine sampling vary depending on the test/s being performed. Often the timing of collection is random, as dictated by the logistics of a doctor consult or access to a laboratory service. However, depending on the purpose of the test, certain urine voids of the day (e.g., the first or second void) may be preferred.

Can a urine test detect bladder cancer?

Several types of urine test have an important role in the overall process of diagnosing bladder cancer. Among these tests, urine cytology and urine tumor marker tests are used to detect the presence or absence of bladder cancer.

Urine-based tests used in the diagnosis of bladder cancer

Urinalysis#N#Urinalysis examines several physical, chemical, and microscopic features of urine samples.

Cxbladder is a genomic urine test for bladder cancer that improves overall detection accuracy

Cxbladder is a non-invasive and easy-to-use genomic urine test that quickly and accurately detects or rules out bladder cancer. The test combines clinical risk factor markers with genetic information, measuring five biomarker genes to detect the presence or absence of bladder cancer.

General Sources

American Cancer Society. Tests for Bladder Cancer. Accessed April 21, 2021.

How to check for bladder cancer?

To find bladder cancer, doctors may run tests to see whether there are certain substances—such as blood—in the urine. Tests may include: 1 Urinalysis (looks for blood in urine) 2 Urine cytology (looks for abnormal cells in urine) 3 Urine culture (looks for an infection, rather than cancer)

What tests are done to check for bladder cancer?

For patients who have symptoms or have had bladder cancer in the past, newer tests that look for tumor markers in urine may include: UroVysion™ (looks for chromosome alterations) BTA tests (looks for bladder tumor-associated antigen—BTA—which is also known as CFHrp)

What tests are used to determine if cancer has spread?

Doctors may also order imaging tests to see whether the cancer has spread. The most common imaging tests include: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the inside of the body.

What is the procedure to remove bladder tumor?

Ultrasound uses sound waves to take pictures of the inside of the body. While working to get a full picture of the diagnosis, doctors may order a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), which is a surgery to remove the tumor and muscle near it for testing.

Is bladder cancer invasive?

If it’s grown into deeper bladder layers or spread to other organs or lymph nodes, it’s invasive. Grade describes how bladder cancer cells look under a microscope. Low-grade cancers, also called well-differentiated cancers, resemble regular bladder cells.

What is it called when cancer spreads to other parts of the body?

It’s also important to know the stage of cancer, or how much the cancer has spread. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it’s called metastatic .

Can bladder cancer be detected early?

Because bladder cancer causes urinary symptoms such as blood in the urine, it may be found early. However, because blood in urine is caused by a lot of conditions other than cancer, urinalysis isn’t a useful screening test for the general population.

How to diagnose bladder cancer?

If the healthcare provider thinks that bladder cancer may be the cause of the symptoms, the patient may be asked to provide a urine sample for analysis in the laboratory. Several types of urine lab tests may be used to help make a diagnosis of bladder cancer, including: 1 Urinalysis testing 2 Urine cytology testing 3 Urine culture testing 4 Urine tests for tumor markers

What is the test for bladder cancer?

A test that can detect substances often found on cancer cells, called mucin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) A test that can detect a protein (called NMP22) that is often elevated in patients with bladder cancer.

Why do people go to the doctor for bladder cancer?

Some patients visit their healthcare providers because they have symptoms such as visible blood in the urine or other urinary symptoms.

Can bladder cancer be diagnosed in urine?

If the healthcare provider thinks that bladder cancer may be the cause of the symptoms, the patient may be asked to provide a urine sample for analysis in the laboratory. Several types of urine lab tests may be used to help make a diagnosis of bladder cancer, including:

What is the medical term for blood in urine?

1-3 The medical term for the symptom of blood in the urine is hematuria.

Can you see blood in urine?

Many patients diagnosed with bladder cancer have the symptom of blood in the urine that is easily visible, but in some patients the amount of blood is so small that it is not visible to the naked eye. Urinalysis can detect very small amounts of blood in the urine, which can sometimes help to diagnose bladder cancer at an earlier stage, …

What is urine cytology?

Urine cytology tests to detect cancer cells. In a urine cytology test, a sample of the patient’s urine is analyzed under a microscope. 1,2 This test can reveal the presence of cancer cells or cells that are pre-cancerous, meaning that they are more likely to become cancer cells later.

Detecting Bladder Cancer with a Cystoscopy

Cystoscopy enables the inside of the urethra and bladder to be examined and sampled. Alongside urine testing and diagnostic imaging procedures, cystoscopy is used in both the initial diagnosis of bladder cancer and in ongoing surveillance for recurrence.

What is a cystoscopy?

A cystoscope is a thin tube with a light and camera attached to the end. During a cystoscopy, the cystoscope is passed through the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the bladder) into the bladder. The two main types of cystoscopy are termed flexible and rigid:

Preparing for a cystoscopy

The process of preparing for a cystoscopy depends on which type of cystoscopy and anesthetic a patient is undergoing. For example:

What happens during a cystoscopy?

During flexible cystoscopy, the patient lies on their back and an anesthetic gel is passed into the urethra to make the area numb. Once the local anesthetic is working, the doctor inserts the cystoscope through the urethra and then into the bladder.

How long does a cystoscopy take?

The cystoscopy procedure itself generally takes 10 to 20 minutes. In some instances it may take longer, for example if multiple biopsies or tumor removal are undertaken.

Is a cystoscopy painful?

Some discomfort may be felt when the local anesthetic gel is applied to the urethra, and when the cystoscope is passed through the urethra into the bladder. At this stage the patient may also feel a need to pass urine.

What to expect after a cystoscopy

Patients usually leave the hospital on the same day of a cystoscopy. Depending on the type of anesthesia used, it may be necessary to arrange a ride home with a friend or family member.

Can a urine test detect bladder cancer?

Urine tests: A urine test can help detect bladder cancer in a small number of cases. A urine routine and microscopic test may reveal the presence of blood in the urine. Further, a urine cytology test can be ordered. This test involves testing samples of urine for three consecutive days and is called three-day urine cytology test.

What is the purpose of a CT scan for bladder cancer?

Computed tomography (CT) scan: CT scan uses multiple X-rays to give detailed, cross-sectional images of bladder cancer from different angles. It is also used to check if cancer has spread to the adjacent lymph nodes and other organs. A special dye called contrast medium may be injected intravenously before the CT scan.

Is bladder cancer a treatable disease?

Bladder cancer is often detected when a person develops signs and symptoms. It is a highly treatable type of cancer when detected early.

What is the procedure to remove a tumor from the bladder called?

The surgical procedure to remove the tissue for biopsy is called a transurethral bladder tumor resection or TURBT. The procedure is used to diagnose bladder cancer, identify the type of tumor and know how deeply cancer has grown into the layers of the bladder.

What is a TURBT biopsy?

Biopsy/transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT): Biopsy is a procedure that involves removing a small tissue of the suspicious part (tumor) of the bladder to examine it under a microscope. It is done when an abnormal growth is found during cystoscopy.