Screening check
Should I be screened for bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is one of the more common cancers in the US, especially in men. The US Preventive Services Task Force looked at whether adults with no symptoms should be screened, for example with a urine test for blood. Check what it says for you.
About you
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What you will see
What the USPSTF says about bladder cancer screening for you.
Educational only, not medical advice. This does not test for cancer. See a clinician about blood in your urine.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, August 2011 recommendation on screening for bladder cancer in adults. It is still the current statement.
Validated in
Adults without symptoms, including those with common mild urinary symptoms.
Limits
It does not test for bladder cancer. It does not cover people with visible blood in the urine or a sudden change in urinary symptoms.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Adults without symptoms | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for bladder cancer | I |
Mild urinary symptoms such as going often, urgency, hesitancy, painful urination or getting up at night are common and are not believed to raise the risk of bladder cancer, so people with them are included. Adults with visible blood in the urine or a sudden change in urinary symptoms are not (USPSTF 2011). Literature scans in July 2024 found no new evidence to support an updated review, so the 2011 statement still applies (USPSTF 2011).
Why it matters
Bladder cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in US men and the ninth in women. About 70,980 new cases and 14,330 deaths were estimated for 2009 (USPSTF 2011). About 70% of new cases are found as superficial tumors, and some of these may never progress; others invade the bladder muscle and spread, and treatment then works less well (USPSTF 2011).
Why the evidence falls short
Possible screening tests include a urine dipstick or microscope test for blood, urine cytology and urine biomarker tests. The evidence on how accurate they are in people without symptoms is inadequate, and there was inadequate evidence that screening, or treating cancers found by screening, lowers illness or death (USPSTF 2011). False positives can lead to anxiety, labeling, pain and complications from cystoscopy and biopsy, such as bleeding, infection or a tear in the bladder, as well as overdiagnosis and unneeded treatment (USPSTF 2011).
Common questions
What raises the risk?
Smoking, work exposure to cancer-causing chemicals (for example in the rubber, chemical and leather industries), male sex, older age, white race, infection with certain bladder parasites, and a family or personal history of bladder cancer (USPSTF 2011).
What happens after a positive urine test?
People with a positive screening result are usually referred to a urologist. Further checks may include cystoscopy (a camera look inside the bladder), a biopsy if a tumor is found, and imaging (USPSTF 2011).
Also see the quit smoking check, the bacteria in urine screening check, the prostate cancer screening check and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- Moyer VA; US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for bladder cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(4):246-251. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/bladder-cancer-in-adults-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.