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Screening for Bladder Cancer

Screening is a way to evaluate people without symptoms to determine if they are at risk for cancer or have already developed cancer. Screening involves:

Assessing your medical history and lifestyle habits that may increase or decrease your risk of bladder cancer
Using tests to identify early signs of bladder cancer

Screening Guidelines

There are no official screening guidelines for bladder cancer. Testing is only recommended for people who are experiencing symptoms suggestive of bladder cancer. People who smoke, however, should be advised to stop, and informed of their greatly increased risk of bladder cancer and other serious disease.

Some experts think that people with a higher-than-normal risk of bladder cancer should be periodically screened. These include the following groups of people:

Heavy smokers
People who have worked in jobs that exposed them to known bladder cancer-causing agents
People who have previously had bladder cancer
People with certain birth defects of the bladder

If you fit one of these categories, you may be advised to have periodic testing:

Urinalysis—testing of a sample of your urine to check for the presence of blood.
Urine cytology—microscopic examination of a sample of your urine to look for the presence of cancer cells.
Cystoscopic examination—examination of the inside of your bladder using a scope (a tiny, fiberoptic tube with a light on the end) that is passed through your urethra and into your bladder

Screening is not 100% effective in diagnosing or excluding cancer. If you develop symptoms that suggest cancer, even after a negative screening test, you should contact your doctor for prompt evaluation.

References

Campell’s Urology. 8th ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Science; 2002: 2732-2765.

Cecil Textbook of Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2002: 633-634.

Conn’s Current Therapy. 54th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2002: 720-721.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for bladder cancer. Agency for Research Healthcare and Quality website. Available at http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/2ndcps/bladdcan.pdf . Accessed December 2002.

What you need to know about bladder cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/bladder . Accessed December 2002.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Mohei Abouzied, MD
Review Date: 09/2012 -
Update Date: 00/92/2012 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.