
Your bladder collects and stores your urine ready for you to have a wee. Bladder Cancer is where you have a tumour in your bladder.
This page gives you information that you would receive for bladder cancer.
We are the regional centre for bladder cancer care in Merseyside and Cheshire. We provide quick diagnosis and expert treatment using the latest techniques.
When you come to see us, you can expect:
Bladder Cancer Diagnosis
Your doctor (GP) will send you to the hospital for further tests if you display bladder cancer symptoms like:
These symptoms are much more likely to suggest urinary infection, not cancer. But it is important to tell your doctor about them straight away.
Tests for bladder cancer include:
Your test results are discussed by the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). This is a group of cancer experts including:
The MDT provide support and advice and help you decide the best treatment path if cancer is discovered.
Treatment starts as soon as possible after the cancer has been discovered. You will be assigned a specialist nurse who stays with you every step of your treatment journey. The nurse is available to answer any questions you may have along the way.
We treat every stage of bladder cancer
Your treatment depends on many factors. One of the most important is how far the cancer has spread in your body. Bladder cancer can be in four different stages.
Treatment types:
Surgery: There are many different types of surgery, depending on how big and how far the cancer has spread. We perform all major surgical procedures at the hospital, including:
We will see you for an appointment within two weeks at the urology clinic. Urology is the branch of medicine that deals with the bladder, prostate, kidneys, ureters and reproductive organs.
You will be asked about your medical history and your current symptoms. Your urine is taken for examination. The doctor then feels the area around your abdomen and bladder. Some diagnostic tests are performed on the day. You'll need another hospital appointment for other tests (e.g. a CT scan or IVU/IVP). This will be arranged at the clinic.
We try to process results of your test as fast as possible. It may take several days for the results to be processed, depending on what tests you've had.
It’s important to undergo further tests to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else. Tests include:
Once we have the results of your tests, we will be able to discuss your options with you and then, if neccessary, which treatment you will be undertaking.
Clinical trials
You may be asked to take part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials help us learn more about the best way to treat specific conditions. To find out more about the Clinical Research Unit visit the website here.