Bladder Cancer
Understand the symptoms, investigations and specialist treatment options for cancer affecting the bladder.
A guide for patients and carers
Understanding bladder cancer
Bladder cancer affects the organ that stores urine. The most appropriate care depends on the type and stage of the cancer and your general health. Your specialist team will explain your diagnosis and help you understand the treatment options available to you.
Symptoms and when to seek help
Blood in your urine is the main symptom of bladder cancer. Other possible symptoms include discomfort when passing urine, needing to go more often or urgently, and repeated urinary tract infections.
If you notice blood in your urine, contact your GP urgently or NHS 111. Do this even if it happens only once, there is very little blood, you have no other symptoms, or you are unsure whether it is blood.
These symptoms can have other causes and do not necessarily mean cancer, but they need assessment.
How it is diagnosed
Your GP may arrange urine or blood tests and refer you to a urologist. The main investigation is a cystoscopy: a thin camera is passed through the urethra to examine the inside of the bladder. A small tissue sample may also be taken.
If cancer is found, further tests or scans help establish its type and stage and guide the treatment plan.
Treatment options
Treatment is tailored to your diagnosis and health. Options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted medicines. Your specialist team will discuss the intended benefits, possible side effects and alternatives with you.
Regular follow-up appointments help monitor your recovery and check for changes. Tell your team about symptoms or side effects that concern you rather than waiting for your next appointment.
When treatment is given directly into the bladder
For selected cancers that have not grown into the bladder muscle, treatment may include prescribed medicine delivered into the bladder through a catheter. This is called intravesical therapy.
Depending on the individual treatment plan, it may involve chemotherapy or BCG immunotherapy after surgery to remove the tumour. It is not suitable for every type or stage of bladder cancer. Your specialist decides which treatment and delivery method are appropriate.
Support throughout your care
A diagnosis can bring practical and emotional questions. Your clinical nurse specialist can explain your care and help you find local support. Cancer charities also provide information and support for patients and families, including Action Bladder Cancer UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK.
Sources & further reading
NHS — symptoms and when to get help
Cancer Research UK — intravesical chemotherapy
Cancer Research UK — BCG treatment
Information checked against the sources above on 29 September 2026. This general guide supports conversations with your healthcare team and does not replace personal medical advice.
