Bladder Surgery (TURBT)

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour (TURBT) is a procedure doctors use to find and remove growths on the inside lining of the bladder.

“Transurethral” means they go through the urethra—the tube you pee through—so there are no cuts on the outside. The doctor guides a thin instrument called a resectoscope into the bladder. It has a tiny camera that shows a clear, magnified view on a screen and a loop of wire at the tip that can shave off the tumour layer by layer using gentle electrical energy. The pieces are washed out and sent to a lab so pathologists can examine them under a microscope and tell exactly what the tumour is and how deep it goes.

Sometimes the doctor also smooths the base of the area or uses energy to cauterize (seal) tiny blood vessels. TURBT is both diagnostic and therapeutic: it helps confirm the type and stage of the tumour and, in many cases, removes the visible growth at the same time—all through natural passages without external incisions.

Shorter wait times

• Queues for cystoscopy and TURBT can take months. Private centres often book consults, cystoscopy, and TURBT within days to weeks—reducing time spent with bleeding, urgency, and anxiety, and helping you return to work or school sooner.

Choice and control

• Choose a high‑volume urologist with specific bladder cancer experience and hospital privileges.
• Select the clinic location (often out‑of‑province) and coordinate dates around family, travel, or job demands.
• Discuss anesthesia options and whether enhanced visualization (e.g., blue‑light or narrow‑band) is available.

Peace of mind

• Clear, confirmed timelines and a detailed plan (diagnostic cystoscopy, TURBT, pathology reporting, and next‑step pathway) reduce uncertainty.
• You know who will operate, where it will happen, and how results will be delivered—easier planning for rides, time off, and support.

Preventing further decline

• Earlier diagnosis and tumour removal can limit ongoing bleeding, clot retention episodes, and repeat ER visits.
• Faster pathology means quicker staging and timely next treatments (intravesical therapy, surveillance), avoiding schedule drift.
• If re‑resection is needed, it can often be arranged promptly, reducing gaps in care.

Practical extras

• Access to specific tech (blue‑light, high‑definition scopes), meticulous photo/video documentation, and coordinated post‑op scheduling (BCG/mitomycin, surveillance cystoscopy).
• Itemized pricing and direct messaging with the care team for rapid questions and results.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that cystoscopy and/or surgery is advisable, but your urologist can also confirm if needed.

1. Research. Explore urologists who specialize in bladder surgery.
   • You can find urologists in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
     ‍‍
2. Schedule an initial consultation. Most urologists offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
     ‍‍
3. Consultation. The urologist will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
   ‍
4. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
     ‍‍
5. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Most TURBTs take about 30–60 minutes of operating time. Expect extra time at the surgical centre for check‑in, anaesthesia, and recovery. Many people go home the same day.

Basic steps

Check‑in and plan

• You meet the team, review your scans/tests, and confirm the plan.

Anaesthesia

• You’ll get general anaesthesia (asleep) or spinal anaesthesia (numb from the waist down). You won’t feel the procedure.

Position and prep

• You lie on a padded table. The area is cleaned and draped. A sterile fluid system is set up to gently fill the bladder so the surgeon can see clearly.

Scope in

• A thin instrument called a resectoscope goes through the urethra (the tube you pee through) into the bladder—no outside cuts.

Find and view the tumour

• A tiny camera shows the inside of the bladder on a screen. Sometimes special blue‑light or filters are used to highlight abnormal areas.

Resect (remove) the tumour

• A small wire loop uses electrical energy to shave the tumour layer by layer. Pieces are washed out and saved for the lab to study.

Control bleeding and tidy up

• The surgeon cauterises tiny blood vessels to stop bleeding and smooths the base of the resection.

Catheter and wrap‑up

• A soft catheter may be left in the bladder to drain urine and keep things comfortable. You go to recovery, get instructions, and head home once you’re safe to leave.

Everyone heals differently—follow your urologist’s plan. TURBT recovery is usually short, but the bladder can be cranky for a bit.

In general, what to expect

Days 1–3

• Reality check: burning when you pee, going more often, urgency, and pink/red urine with tiny clots. Crampy lower belly feelings are common.
• Goals: keep urine flowing, control discomfort, avoid clots.
• Activities: drink plenty of water; short walks a few times a day; take approved pain/antispasm meds. If you go home with a catheter, follow the care sheet and keep the bag below your bladder.

Days 4–7

• Usually improving.
• Goals: settle irritation and lighten the urine colour.
• Activities: most people manage school/desk work in a few days. Avoid heavy lifting, straining, cycling, and high‑impact exercise.

Weeks 2–3

• Steady phase.
• Goals: near‑normal bathroom habits.
• Activities: gradually resume regular exercise when cleared. If you had a catheter, it’s often removed in the first week, then a day of extra urgency is normal.

If intravesical medicine was given in recovery (e.g., mitomycin)

• You may have extra urgency for a day. Follow handling/toileting instructions exactly.

Red flags—call your care team or go to urgent care/ER

• Fever or chills
• Can’t pee, or stream suddenly stops
• Bright‑red urine that doesn’t lighten after pushing fluids, or large clots
• Severe/worsening lower belly or flank pain, nausea/vomiting
• Catheter not draining or leaking around the tube

In Canada private clinics usually charge $4,000 – $9,500.

In the United States, the cost ranges between $4,200 - $13,500.

Exact prices vary by province/clinic, tumour size/location, anaesthesia (spinal vs general), whether blue‑light is used, and if a catheter or same‑day intravesical medicine is included. Always request a written, itemized quote.

What’s usually included

• Surgeon professional fee
• Anaesthesia (spinal or general) and monitoring
• Facility/OR fees, nursing, standard disposables, cystoscope/resectoscope use
• Basic pathology submission (specimen handling) and immediate recovery care
• Standard catheter placement and a brief follow‑up visit

What’s often not included

• Pre‑op tests and imaging (urinalysis/culture, bloodwork, ultrasound/CT)
• Pathology interpretation fee (the lab bills separately)
• Blue‑light equipment/consumables, intravesical chemotherapy (mitomycin/BCG), or special implants
• Extra OR time beyond the booked block, unplanned admission/overnight stay
• Prescriptions after surgery (pain, antispasmodics), additional catheter supplies
• Travel/accommodation if you’re out‑of‑province/state
• Second‑look TURBT or additional procedures if margins are unclear or re‑resection is required

Choosing your surgeon and clinic is a big benefit of going private—use it to your advantage.

What to look for

Experience and volume

• Ask how many cystoscopies and TURBTs they perform per month/year, and their case mix (diagnostic cystoscopy, bladder cancer surveillance, blue‑light cystoscopy, biopsies, resections, re‑resections).
• Higher volume and standardized outpatient pathways usually mean smoother care and fewer complications.

Credentials and training

• Verify licensure with your provincial college (CPSO Ontario, CPSBC BC, CPSA Alberta, CMQ Québec, etc.).
• Look for FRCSC‑certified urologists; added fellowship or focused practice in uro‑oncology/endourology is a plus for TURBT.

Outcomes and safety

• Ask for recent metrics: infection/UTI rate after office cystoscopy, unplanned ER visits within 72 hours, catheter reinsertion rate, early re‑resection rate, complete resection rates, and on‑time pathology turnaround.
• For cancer care: adherence to guideline timelines (e.g., first TURBT → pathology → intravesical therapy/surveillance).

Indications and plan

• Ensure the reason for cystoscopy/TURBT is clear and matches your tests.
• Confirm pre‑op workup (urinalysis/culture, imaging) and what decisions the procedure will answer.

Technique and technology

• Flexible vs rigid cystoscope; availability of enhanced visualisation (blue‑light/narrow‑band) when indicated.
• Ability to perform same‑visit biopsy/fulguration, immediate intravesical mitomycin when appropriate, and high‑quality photo/video documentation.

Facility accreditation

• Choose accredited non‑hospital surgical facilities (Accreditation Canada/CAAASF or provincial programs).
• Ask about scope reprocessing standards, back‑up equipment, and hospital transfer agreements.

Communication and logistics

• Clear written instructions, direct contact for urgent issues, and defined turnaround for results.
• Options for virtual follow‑ups; coordination with your family doctor/oncology team.

Pricing transparency (private/self‑pay)

• Request an itemized quote: surgeon, facility, anaesthesia, pathology (lab fee), blue‑light consumables, intravesical meds, catheter supplies, and follow‑ups.
• Ask how costs change if the plan expands (larger tumour, need for re‑resection).