How to Diagnose Bladder Cancer
Individuals who suspect they have bladder cancer should see their medical provider for testing. Physicians do a variety of test to find out if a patient has bladder cancer. The tests done will indicate the severity of the condition and the doctor will be able to tell the person the stage of the cancer.
- Make an appointment with a health care provider. The first sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Individuals who notice traces of blood in their urine should make an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible.
- Describe your symptoms to your doctor and give them your family history. The doctor will want to know if anyone else in your family has had bladder cancer.
- Take a physical and submit a urine sample. Most physicians will want to perform a complete physical and have certain lab work done. You will also be required to give blood for labs.
- Have a biopsy performed. If the bladder appears abnormal the doctor will want to take a sample of the abnormal tissue and have it sent for testing.
- Get a referral to a specialist. If your primary health provider suspects cancer they will recommend you to see a urologist. These doctors are trained to do thorough testing to find out whether or not you have cancer and what stages it is in.
- Allow the urologists to perform a cystoscopy. The doctor will insert a small fiber optic tube into your bladder. The tube will have a small lens and light that will allow the doctor to view inside the bladder.
- Expect the urologist to perform a fluorescence cystoscopy while performing the basic cystoscopy procedure. The physician will put porphyrins in the bladder and then look with a blue light to see if the cells are glowing. Glowing cells will indicate where the cancer is and how far it has spread.