Kidneys & urinary tractCancerICD-10 C67
Bladder cancer
Cancer of the bladder lining, strongly linked to smoking. The classic sign is painless visible blood in the urine.
Condition-specific references are below. Individual claims and this page have not been clinically reviewed. Read about this content.
Causes
- Carcinogens excreted in urine
Risk factors
- Smoking (half of cases)
- Industrial dyes and chemicals
- Older age, male sex
- Schistosomiasis
Symptoms
- Painless blood in urine
- Frequent or painful urination
Diagnosis — tests and examinations
- Cystoscopy
- CT urogram
- Urine cytology
- Biopsy/TURBT
Treatment
Medicines and medical treatment
- Intravesical BCG or chemotherapy for non-muscle-invasive disease
- Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, enfortumab vedotin for advanced disease
Operations and procedures
- Transurethral resection (TURBT)
- Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion
- Chemoradiotherapy
Self-care, home remedies and lifestyle
- Stop smoking
- Regular cystoscopy follow-up
Possible complications
- Recurrence
- Spread
Prevention
- Not smoking, workplace protection
Outlook
Excellent for superficial tumours; recurrence is common.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor promptly for any visible blood in the urine.
Sources and further reading
These sources cover this condition. They have not been checked against every statement on this page.
Related conditions
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