Bladder Cancer
| Causes & symptoms | The Treatment | Questions |  |
The Diagnosis
Preliminary Examination
Check the urine sample
An internal examination of the back passage (rectum) in men and an internal examination of the rectum and vagina (birth canal) in women.
Futher Tests
Blood test
Check the number of cells in your blood (blood count) to see how well your kidneys are working.
Check the number of cells in your blood (blood count) to see how well your kidneys are working.
Chest X-ray
Check that your lungs and heart are healthy.
Check that your lungs and heart are healthy.
Intravenous urogram (IVU or IVP)
A dye is injected into a vein, usually in the arm, and goes via the bloodstream to the kidneys. The doctor can watch the passage of the dye on an X-ray screen and pick up any abnormalities.
A dye is injected into a vein, usually in the arm, and goes via the bloodstream to the kidneys. The doctor can watch the passage of the dye on an X-ray screen and pick up any abnormalities.
Cystoscopy and biopsy
This test allows the doctor to look inside the bladder, and snip off small samples of tumour for examination under the microscope. This is called a biopsy and helps to decide whether a tumour is benign or malignant.
This test allows the doctor to look inside the bladder, and snip off small samples of tumour for examination under the microscope. This is called a biopsy and helps to decide whether a tumour is benign or malignant.
CT scan (CAT scan)
A CT scan is another type of X-ray and is done to check the extent of any spread of the cancer. A number of pictures are taken of the pelvis and fed into a computer to form a detailed picture of the inside of the body.
A CT scan is another type of X-ray and is done to check the extent of any spread of the cancer. A number of pictures are taken of the pelvis and fed into a computer to form a detailed picture of the inside of the body.
Radioisotope bone scan
A radioisotope scan is usually done to see if any cancer cells have spread beyond the bladder and into the bones. For this test a tiny amount of radioactive dye is injected into a vein, usually in the arm and the patient is then scanned by a machine which measures minute amounts of radioactivity.
A radioisotope scan is usually done to see if any cancer cells have spread beyond the bladder and into the bones. For this test a tiny amount of radioactive dye is injected into a vein, usually in the arm and the patient is then scanned by a machine which measures minute amounts of radioactivity.
Liver ultrasound scan
In this test sound waves are used to make up a picture of the inside of the abdomen and the liver.
In this test sound waves are used to make up a picture of the inside of the abdomen and the liver.
