Bladder cancer usually starts in the lining of the bladder. Many people first notice blood in the urine; others have frequency, urgency, or discomfort when passing urine. Assessment often includes urine tests, imaging of the urinary tract, and cystoscopy so the bladder lining can be seen directly.
When a growth is found, tissue can often be sampled or removed through the urethra (transurethral resection of bladder tumour, TURBT) without an abdominal cut. Further care depends on how deep the tumour has grown and may include surveillance cystoscopy, medicine placed into the bladder, further endoscopic surgery, or, in selected cases, open removal of the bladder. Plans are individual and made after discussion of findings and options with your urologist.
Procedures commonly used in bladder cancer care include flexible and rigid cystoscopy, transurethral (endoscopic) resection of bladder tumour (TURBT), and, when needed, open removal of the bladder.
An internationally trained urological surgeon, who has subspecialised in minimally invasive nerve sparing prostate cancer surgery. Dr. Roy McGregor brings years of surgical experience ensuring patients have less pain, quicker recoveries, shorter hospital stays and smaller scars.Â
With minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, Small, half-inch incisions are made in the abdominal wall through which plastic ports are placed that allows thin instrument’s and a magnifying telescope attached to a camera to magnify images inside the body onto a screen. There are many benefits to this type of surgery over open surgery, including less pain afterwards, quicker recovery, shorter hospital stays, lower risk of infection & deep vein thrombosis, smaller scars, and a sooner return to full activities.
