Bladder Cancer Surgery
Bladder cancer surgery removes cancer from the bladder. Early tumors are usually removed from inside the bladder through the urethra, with no external cut, in an operation called TURBT. When cancer has grown into the bladder muscle, the bladder may be removed (radical cystectomy) and the urinary system reconstructed, planned by a multidisciplinary team.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Treatment depends on how deep the cancer has grown. Most bladder cancers are found early, before they reach the muscle wall, and can be removed from inside the bladder using transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT). A telescope is passed along the urethra and the tumor is shaved away, with no external incision. TURBT also provides tissue that tells the team the cancer's type, grade and depth.
When cancer has invaded the bladder muscle, more extensive treatment is needed. This may mean removing the whole bladder (radical cystectomy) and creating a new way for urine to leave the body — either a stoma with an external bag or a reconstructed internal reservoir — sometimes with robotic assistance. Decisions are made by a multidisciplinary team, and surgery may be combined with chemotherapy or other treatments. Follow-up cystoscopy checks for any return of early cancers.
For international patients, a dedicated coordinator arranges evaluation, and our specialists can review your cystoscopy findings, imaging and pathology remotely. Before you travel you receive a written plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate, along with clear guidance on how follow-up can continue after you return home.
Who is a candidate?
- People with a bladder tumor seen on cystoscopy or imaging that needs removal and staging
- Patients with early, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer suitable for TURBT
- People with muscle-invasive bladder cancer being considered for radical cystectomy
- Those fit enough for surgery, as assessed by the urology and anesthesia teams
- Patients seeking a second opinion on the stage of their cancer and the best surgical option
What happens
- 1
Assessment and staging
Cystoscopy, urine tests and imaging such as CT or MRI define the tumor. Complex cases are reviewed at a multidisciplinary tumor board to agree the plan.
- 2
TURBT
Under anesthesia, the surgeon passes a telescope along the urethra and removes the tumor from inside the bladder. The tissue is sent for pathology to confirm the type, grade and depth.
- 3
Further surgery if needed
If the cancer has invaded the bladder muscle, radical cystectomy may be recommended — removing the bladder and reconstructing how urine leaves the body, sometimes with robotic assistance and often alongside chemotherapy.
- 4
Recovery and surveillance
Recovery is quick after TURBT and longer after cystectomy. Because early bladder cancers can come back, regular follow-up cystoscopy is arranged, and international patients receive a written surveillance plan for home.
Benefits
- Removes the cancer and provides tissue for accurate staging and grading
- TURBT is minimally invasive, with no external cut and a quick recovery
- Radical cystectomy offers the best chance of cure for muscle-invasive disease
- Robotic cystectomy is available in suitable cases, which can mean less blood loss and a faster recovery
- Planning by a multidisciplinary tumor board, combining surgery with other treatments where needed
Risks & considerations
- After TURBT: temporary blood in the urine, discomfort passing urine, infection or, uncommonly, a bladder perforation
- Early bladder cancers often recur, so repeat TURBT and ongoing surveillance are frequently needed
- Radical cystectomy is major surgery with risks of bleeding, infection, blood clots and slower recovery
- A urinary diversion (stoma or reconstructed reservoir) changes how you pass urine and takes adjustment
- Cystectomy can affect sexual and urinary function; the team discusses this with you beforehand
Conditions this treats
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Bladder Cancer Surgery — frequently asked questions
TURBT removes a tumor from inside the bladder through the urethra, with no external cut, and is used for early cancers that have not reached the muscle. Radical cystectomy removes the whole bladder and is used when cancer has invaded the muscle. The choice depends on the stage and grade found on testing.
Only if the whole bladder is removed. In that case, urine is rerouted either to a stoma with an external bag or to a reconstructed internal reservoir, depending on what suits you. TURBT does not require this. Your surgeon explains the options before any operation.
In suitable cases, radical cystectomy can be performed with robotic assistance through small incisions, which may mean less blood loss and a quicker recovery than open surgery. Your surgeon advises whether it is appropriate for your case.
Yes. Our specialists can review your cystoscopy findings, imaging and pathology remotely and give an opinion on the stage and the best surgical option before you decide to travel.
TURBT is usually a day case or one night, while radical cystectomy involves about one to two weeks in hospital plus recovery — your coordinator confirms the timeline. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case and do not quote fixed prices online because each plan is individual.
Related treatments
Considering bladder cancer surgery?
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