If my urologist finds bladder cancer during my cystoscopy can he just remove it right away?

Yes: Depending on the size of the tumor, it can be biopsied and removed in the office. However, surgery will still be required to do a more deeper biopsy to determine if the tumor has grown into the bladder muscle. The only way to appropriately stage the cancer is to resect the lesion in the or for a definitive diagnosis.

Yes: A number of factors may impact whether or not t tumor idenitifed during cystoscopy are removed immediately or at a later date. These include the size, number, and location of tumor(s) that are identified. In addition, if the cystoscopy is being performed under local anesthesia in the office, your urologist will determine if he is able to do the procedure safely, adequately, and with minimal pain.

No.: The cystoscopy prompted by blood in the urine is usually a flexible scope in the office without anesthesia. If a bladder tumor is seen, a procedure has to be scheduled in the operating room with the patient under anesthesia. It is this procedure where the tumor is carefully removed to allow for staging, and biopsies may be taken.

Bladder cancer: Sometimes, if the lesion is quite small. If it is a first occurence, your urologist will likely want to biopsy and wait for the pathologists interpretation before proceding with cystoscopic treatment and likely further biopsies under anesthesia.

Small tumors: Can be removed at time of cystoscopy, and their invasiveness determined by pathology. Many bladder cancers are superficial, and non-invasive, but these cannot be removed completely internally. Larger tumors may not be removed by transurethral resections. Some require pre-treatment with chemotherapy and total bladder removal.