Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (or urothelial cancer) is responsible for approximately 3% of all cancers diagnosed in Australia each year and affects men more than woman.

The main risk factor is smoking but some occupations (eg. auto work, leather and apparel work, rubber and metal work) can expose people to chemicals that can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.

It is due to an abnormal growth of cells on the lining of the bladder wall which in its early stages may produce no symptoms at all. One of the earliest signs of bladder cancer is blood in the urine or haematuria. This may not be visible to the naked eye but may be detected in the urine by a routine test. Larger tumours may cause visible blood in the urine which is usually painless.  Occasionally, patients may report symptoms of bladder irritation such a frequent urination, urgency to urinate or painful urination.

Sydney Urology Group offers comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, counselling, nursing and allied health support for patients affected by bladder cancer. For superficial bladder tumours these can often be managed with removal via a telescope passed via the urethra (water pipe) into the bladder. This is known as a Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT). For many patient’s superficial bladder tumours can be managed without major surgery and preservation of the bladder. Close surveillance is always required however and occasionally patients need extra treatments into the bladder such as intravesical BCG.

Patients with more advanced or invasive tumours may require more invasive surgery to remove the bladder and reconstruct the urinary tract. Complete removal of the bladder is known as a radical cystectomy. At Sydney Urology Group Dr Nicholas Mehan and Dr Scott Leslie specialise in minimally invasive uro-oncology and offer robotic surgery for patients with bladder cancer. This includes the formation of urinary diversions such as an ileal conduit or orthotopic neo-bladder in selected patients.