As with many types of bladder conditions, bladder cancer is not something that should be taken lightly.

Bladder cancer is not only one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed among men and women — nearly four times more often in men — but it also has one of the highest rates of recurrence, meaning that it’s likely to come back after it’s been removed. This makes the need for accurate diagnostic exams like cystoscopies that much more critical.

A cystoscopy allows physicians to view the inside of the bladder using a thin instrument tipped with a tiny camera and light that’s passed through the urethra into the bladder, where an early-stage bladder cancer called non-muscle invasive cancer can be found.

A cystoscopy is one of the best ways to look for these types of cancers because they usually develop on the inner tissue. In the standard cystoscopy exam, a white light is used to view the inside of the bladder and spot tumors. However, where larger cancerous areas may be visible using white light, smaller tumors may be overlooked because they appear the same as surrounding healthy tissue.

To learn more, visit our Bladder Cancer page or call 678-661-2813 to schedule an appointment with a urology specialist at Tanner.