Bladder cancer is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history assessment, physical examinations, and various tests. Here are the main steps and tests involved in diagnosing bladder cancer:
- Medical History and Physical Exam: Your GW Cancer Center doctor will ask about your medical history, symptoms, risk factors (such as smoking or exposure to certain chemicals), and family history of cancer. A physical exam may include a rectal or vaginal examination to check for masses or anything unusual.
- Urine Tests:
- Urinalysis: To check for blood or other abnormal substances in the urine.
- Urine Cytology: Examines urine under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
- Urine Tumor Marker Tests: Detects specific substances released by bladder cancer cells.
- Imaging Tests:
- Ultrasound: Often used to view the bladder and kidneys.
- Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP): A dye is injected into a vein and X-rays are taken as the dye moves through the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
- CT Scan: Provides detailed images and can help detect bladder tumors and other abnormalities in the urinary tract and surrounding areas.
- MRI: Offers detailed images of soft tissues, including the bladder.
- Cystoscopy: This is a key diagnostic tool for bladder cancer. A cystoscope, a thin tube with a camera and light, is inserted into the bladder through the urethra (the hollow tube that lets urine leave your body). This allows your doctor to view the inside of the bladder and urethra. If any abnormalities are seen, the doctor can remove small tissue samples (biopsy) during this procedure to analyze for cancer cells.
- Biopsy: The definitive way to diagnose bladder cancer is through a biopsy, typically performed during a cystoscopy. A pathologist examines a tissue sample under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
