Getting diagnosed
Screening means testing people for early stages of a disease. This is before they have any symptoms. For screening to be useful the tests:
need to be reliable at picking up cancers
overall must do more good than harm to people taking part
must be something that people are willing to do
Screening tests are not perfect and have some risks. The screening programme should also be good value for money for the NHS.
There is no screening programme for bladder cancer in the UK at the moment because:
there is no reliable screening test for bladder cancer
the benefits don’t outweigh the costs
Talk to your GP if you think you are at an increased risk of bladder cancer. They may ask questions about any family members who have cancer and the age they were diagnosed.
Your GP may be able to reassure you that your risk of bladder cancer is not increased. Or they may refer you to a family cancer clinic or genetic clinic for advice.
Find out about the risks and causes of bladder cancer
Whether you think you are at high risk or not, it is very important to see your doctor if you develop any bladder symptoms. This is the best way of finding bladder cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable.
Get more information on the symptoms of bladder cancer
At the moment there is no reliable screening test for bladder cancer. Researchers have been looking at urine tests to diagnose bladder cancer. A urine sample is less invasive, simpler and quicker than other bladder cancer tests.
Testing for blood in the urine is not a useful screening test for the general population. This is because small amounts of blood in the urine can be due to other medical conditions. For example, a urine infection or kidney problems.
Researchers have looked at testing for blood in the urine for people at a higher risk of bladder cancer. The test involves dipping a testing stick into a fresh sample of urine. The National Screening Committee have looked at the results of many studies. They think that testing the urine for blood is not a useful test for this group of people at the moment.
Researchers are also looking at testing urine for certain proteins that might be a sign of bladder cancer.
Last reviewed: 01 May 2025
Next review due: 01 May 2028
The main symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your pee (urine). Other symptoms include problems passing urine, pain, feeling tired and weight loss.
Bladder cancer starts in the inner lining of the bladder. The bladder stores urine and is in the lower part of your tummy (abdomen).
See your GP if you have any symptoms. For bladder cancer, symptoms include blood in your pee (urine) and problems passing urine.
You usually start by seeing your GP. Depending on your symptoms, they might refer you for tests or to see a specialist.
Smoking tobacco is the biggest cause of bladder cancer in the UK. There are some other risk factors that can increase your risk.
Go to the main page to find all the information we have about bladder cancer, including tests, treatment, research and support.
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