Quick Links
About MyBladderCancerTeam
Powered By
A diagnosis of bladder cancer can turn your world upside down in an instant. Along with fear and uncertainty, there’s a flood of new information about treatment options. One of the first decisions for people with bladder cancer, especially non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), is whether to have surgery. Understanding your options early on can help you feel more prepared and confident as you move forward.
You might have questions about whether your bladder will need to be removed and what recovery will look like. The answers depend on many factors. Your doctor may recommend surgery based on the type and stage of your cancer, your age, and your overall health. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the main surgical options for bladder cancer. We’ll discuss what they involve, who they’re commonly recommended for, and what life might be like afterward.
TURBT stands for transurethral resection of bladder tumor. It’s usually the first step in diagnosing and treating NMIBC. With NMIBC, the tumor stays in the inner lining of the bladder and hasn’t spread into the muscle.
This type of surgery is mainly used for early-stage bladder cancer. It allows doctors to remove tumors they can see and test the tumor tissue. This helps them determine the tumor’s grade and stage — how abnormal the cancer cells are and how deeply they’ve grown into the bladder wall. This information helps your doctor decide what treatment you may need next.
TURBT is a minimally invasive procedure that’s done without any cuts into the skin. It involves a thin instrument called a cystoscope, which is inserted through the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body) and into the bladder. The surgeon can see the tumor with the cystoscope and remove it at the same time.
After TURBT, you may be able to go home the same day, or you might have to stay overnight in the hospital. A catheter (a thin hollow tube inserted into the urethra to allow fluid to drain from the bladder) might be placed for a few days during healing. Recovery involves drinking fluids, managing mild bleeding, and watching for signs of infection. It’s normal to feel burning while urinating or have a little blood in the urine for a few days after the catheter is taken out. There may be some bleeding for up to one or two weeks after a TURBT procedure.
You might experience mild pain during urination, frequent urges to urinate, or short-term bleeding. In rare cases, a small perforation (tear) in the bladder can develop. If symptoms worsen or become severe, contact your healthcare team right away.
Your cancer team will assess your cancer’s risk of progressing — low, intermediate, or high — based on examining your tumor cells. Depending on how high-risk your cancer is, you may need additional bladder cancer treatment after TURBT. For example, you might have intravesical therapy, which is when medication is given directly to the bladder through a catheter. This can include chemotherapy or a type of immunotherapy called bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment. Some people may be advised to undergo radiation therapy to the pelvis after TURBT.
A radical cystectomy is a surgery to remove the entire bladder. In men, it also includes removing the prostate and seminal vesicles (glands that help produce semen) and in women, the surgeon may also remove the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and a small part of the vagina, according to the Moffitt Cancer Center. For both women and men, the doctor will usually also remove nearby lymph nodes to check if the cancer has spread.
This type of surgery is commonly used for aggressive cancers such as muscle-invasive bladder cancer, where the cancer is growing and spreading quickly. It may also be used for advanced bladder cancer if it hasn’t spread far beyond the bladder. Doctors typically recommend this procedure for people who are in good health and can recover from major surgery.
Radical cystectomy is done in the hospital with general anesthesia, so the person is asleep during the procedure. Surgeons may use one larger cut in the belly or several small cuts with help from robotic tools. After the bladder is removed, the doctor will create a neobladder (new bladder).
After a radical cystectomy, you’ll stay in the hospital for between five and 14 days, but full recovery may take up to eight weeks. You’ll probably have a catheter or other device to help drain urine during this time. It can take several weeks to fully heal. Your cancer care team will help you manage pain and begin moving around safely during this time.
After any major surgery, it’s important to follow up with your healthcare team after your procedure to keep an eye out for potential side effects. For a radical cystectomy, these might include:
A segmental or partial cystectomy is surgery to remove only the part of the bladder that has the tumor. The rest of the bladder is left in place. The surgeon may also take out nearby lymph nodes to check for any spread of cancer. Unlike a radical cystectomy, this procedure allows you to keep using your bladder to pass urine.
Segmental cystectomy is only used in certain cases. For example, it’s an option when the tumor is in one spot and can be removed without changing how the bladder works. It’s usually considered for low-grade or early-stage bladder cancer that hasn’t spread into the muscle layer (NMIBC). It may also be an option for those who can’t have a full bladder removal because of other health concerns — like if the tumor is too close to the tubes that carry urine out of the bladder, if there are several tumors in different spots, or if the bladder isn’t working well to begin with.
Partial bladder removal takes a few hours under general anesthesia. However, you’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days afterward. The surgeon will place a catheter through your urethra to help drain fluids while your bladder heals. It usually stays in for about a week. You may be given fluids or pain medicine to help with healing. Your healthcare team will monitor you for bleeding, infection, or problems passing urine.
After the catheter is taken out, you may need to urinate more often than usual. This is normal as your bladder adjusts to its smaller size. Most people return to light activities within a few weeks, but complete recovery can take longer. Be sure to follow your oncologist’s instructions and attend all follow-up appointments. Even with a successful procedure, there’s a chance your cancer could come back later.
Your doctor may recommend neoadjuvant therapy (treatment before surgery), too. For example, you might be given a type of chemotherapy before your procedure to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back later.
After a radical cystectomy, you’ll need urinary diversion, which is a new system for storing and passing urine out of the body. Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may be given a neobladder or an ileal conduit.
A neobladder is a new bladder made from a piece of your intestine. It’s placed in your pelvis where the bladder was positioned and attached to your ureters and urethra so you can urinate normally. You won’t feel the normal urge to go, so you’ll need to learn how to empty it using the muscles in your abdomen (belly). Some people may still need to use a catheter to urinate. Leakage is common at first, especially at night.
An ileal conduit is a type of urinary diversion that uses a piece of your small intestine (called the ileum) to create a new pathway for urine to leave your body. It’s attached to your ureters (tubes that carry urine from your kidneys). Then, it comes out through an opening in your belly called a stoma and drains into a bag worn on the outside of your body (urostomy bag). This type of urinary diversion is called an “incontinent diversion” because you don’t control when urine comes out — it flows continuously into the bag.
Ileal conduits are often recommended for older adults or those with other health issues who may not be able to manage a more complex system like a neobladder. It’s a reliable option with fewer steps to learn. After surgery, a nurse will teach you how to care for it and change the bag.
Bladder cancer surgery can sound overwhelming at first, but learning about your options can help you take the next step with more confidence. Whether your treatment involves removing a tumor or the whole bladder, there are ways to manage changes and support your recovery. Every person’s situation is different, so talk with your doctor about what matters most to you — your health, your lifestyle, and your comfort. With the right care and support, you can find a path that works best for you.
On MyBladderCancerTeam, the social network for people with bladder cancer and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with bladder cancer.
Have you or a loved one undergone surgery for bladder cancer? What do you wish you’d known before the procedure? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.
Get updates directly to your inbox.
Sign up for free!
Become a member to get even more
Your privacy is our priority.
We'd love to hear from you! Please share your name and email to post and read comments.
You'll also get the latest articles directly to your inbox.