A Trans Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumour (TURBT) is usually the first treatment you have for early bladder cancer.Your surgeon removes the tumour in your bladder through the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of your body.
You might have TURBT to remove early bladder cancer:
- during a cystoscopy test if your specialist sees a tumour
- after having tests that have shown a bladder tumour
You usually have it under general anaesthetic, which means you are asleep. In some hospitals, you may have a spinal anaesthetic instead of a general anaesthetic. This is an injection into your spine (epidural) so you can’t feel anything from below your waist. You usually have this at the hospital in the day surgery unit. You might go home on the same day of your operation. But sometimes you have to stay in overnight or for a couple of days.