Urine test halves painful procedures in bladder cancer follow up, new trial shows
A simple urine test can more than halve the number of cystoscopies necessary to follow up high-risk bladder cancer patients, new research has found.
Cystoscopies involve inserting a flexible probe through the urethra into the bladder, which allows a clinician to look at the bladder lining for signs of cancer. While they are predominantly safe procedures, cystoscopies do incur some risk of urinary infections and bleeding. They can also cause pain and discomfort.
Initial results from a two-year study, presented today [6 April 2024] at the European Association of Urology Congress in Paris, suggest that there is also no increased risk of recurrence in patients who had a urine biomarker test rather than a standard flexible cystoscopy. Full results on this aspect of the trial are expected in the summer.
The study was carried out in Denmark, where post-surgical follow-up for high-risk bladder cancer recommends cystoscopies every four months for two years. In the UK, patients undergo even more frequent cystoscopies: every three months for two years.