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Surgency is a free resource for Canadian patients and caregivers. Private pathways Canadian physician in the public system to help you find the right surgeon for your needs.
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.
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.
Check‑in and plan
Anaesthesia
Position and prep
Scope in
Find and view the tumour
Resect (remove) the tumour
Control bleeding and tidy up
Catheter and wrap‑up
Everyone heals differently—follow your urologist’s plan. TURBT recovery is usually short, but the bladder can be cranky for a bit.
If intravesical medicine was given in recovery (e.g., mitomycin)
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.
Choosing your surgeon and clinic is a big benefit of going private—use it to your advantage.
TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour) is a procedure where a urologist uses a tiny camera and wire loop through the urethra (no outside cuts) to look inside the bladder and remove tumours or suspicious growths.
Yes and no—you can reach out to any of the private surgeons listed on Surgency without a referral. Their intake teams are happy to answer questions, explain what they treat, share pricing ranges, and walk you through next steps.
However, to book a formal consultation with the surgeon, you'll typically need a referral from your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Don't have one? Many of the clinics can help coordinate a virtual GP appointment to get the referral paperwork sorted. All surgeons listed on Surgency offer virtual initial consultations, so you don't need to travel until you and the surgeon have agreed on a plan.
Before your consultation, expect the clinic to request relevant medical records and recent diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, lab work, etc.). Having these ready speeds up the process and lets the surgeon give you specific guidance on your very first call.
Your urologist’s instructions come first—follow their plan if it differs.
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Surgeons—who meet our listing criteria—pay a flat fee to list on the Surgency platform. To maintain objectivity, there are no commissions, referral fees, nor any ranking or recommending one surgeon over another.
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Your individual risk depends on your health, anatomy, tumour size/location, what’s done during TURBT (biopsy only, full resection, blue‑light, intravesical medicine), the type of anaesthesia, and how closely you follow instructions. Discuss your personal risks with your urologist.
TURBT is the standard way to diagnose and remove bladder tumours through natural passages. Most side effects are mild and short‑lived; serious problems are uncommon, especially with experienced teams and good after‑care. Your urologist can explain which risks matter most for you.
Your situation depends on your symptoms (blood in urine, clots, bladder irritation), what cystoscopy/imaging shows, tumour size/location, and your overall health. Talk specifics with your urologist.
Progressive symptoms and life disruption
Disease progression
Harder treatment later
Complications from blockage or clots
Uncertainty and stress
If a bladder growth is suspected or seen, timely TURBT gives a diagnosis and removes the visible tumour through natural passages. Waiting with ongoing red flags can let problems grow and make treatment tougher. If symptoms are mild and tests are clear, close monitoring with your urologist may be okay.
If you still have questions, then feel free to contact us directly.
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An FRCSC-certified urologist, with 25 years of experience, and 10,000+ procedures completed. Experienced with prostate disease, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, bladder & testicular conditions.
Leading urologist specializing in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Her areas of expertise include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence (male and female), voiding disorders, BPH.
