How will I know I have bladder cancer?

You won’t know if you have bladder cancer until your doctor has talked to you, done a physical examination, and carried out some tests. Having these tests does not mean you will have cancer, but it is really important to check. You can request a male or female doctor, nurse or health worker to assist with following Men’s Business and Women’s Business protocols.

The tests might include:

• checking a sample of your urine
• blood tests
• imaging tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan to see what your insides look like
• a cystoscopy, when they put a tube into your bladder to have a close look at the inside of your bladder
• a biopsy, which is when they take a tiny bit of the inside lining of your bladder while you’re having a cystoscopy and look at it with a microscope.