• The treatment of bladder cancer in India is available on a very fair and affordable scale. This has made India one of the most popular and popular destinations in the world, offering the best treatment facilities.
  • There are many treatment choices available in India, and the cost of treating bladder cancer varies depending on the treatment method that one selects.
  • Factors such as the hospital chosen, the specialists involved, the expertise of the doctor influence the cost of bladder cancer treatment in India.

Stages of Bladder cancer

More about Bladder Cancer Treatment in India

  • The bladder, located in the pelvic region, is a muscular, balloon-shaped, and hollow organ. Before it passes through the urethra and leaves the body, it stores urine formed by the kidneys. Bladder cancer in the tissues of the urinary bladder refers to malignant growths/tumours.
  • The most common form of bladder cancer is that which starts in the inner lining of the bladder cells (transitional cell carcinoma). The other forms include squamous cell carcinoma, in which the cancer is small, cancer starts with flat cells lining the inside of the bladder, and adenocarcinoma in the cells that release mucus.
  • Good quality medical facilities and the best outcomes are given at a very reasonable cost for the treatment of bladder cancer in India. India has recently emerged as a popular medical tourism destination for patients around the world who are seeking care from world-renowned doctors at highly accredited hospitals in India.

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

  • Urine blood (hematuria): this is the most common symptom and typically the first sign of a cancer alarm. It is usually painless and, depending on the amount of blood in the urine, the urine can appear light pink, brown or red (rarely). Blood is often not visible, and urine may seem clear, but urinalysis may find small quantities of blood (urine test). After the initial sighting, the blood can also vanish for weeks.
  • Urinary pattern changes: regular (more than usual) urination, burning feeling or pain when urinating, sudden urges to urinate even though the bladder is not full.
  • These are the early-stage symptoms of bladder cancer and can correlate with symptoms of other conditions, such as urinary tract infection, bladder stones, kidney stones, or male prostate enlargement. In every case, however, one must visit the doctor for a check-up.

Advance Stages Symptoms

  • Pelvic pain
  • Being unable to urinate
  • Swelling in the feet
  • Bone pain
  • Unintentional weight loss

Bladder Cancer Treatment In India

Treatment Price


Starting USD 270 per session

(Indian Rupees Approx. 19,000)


Starting USD 2700

(Indian Rupees Approx. 1,90,000)

Radiation Theraphy

Starting USD 3,100

(Indian Rupees Approx. 2,20,000)

Trans urethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT)

Starting USD 3,600

(Indian Rupees Approx. 2,50,000)

No. of Travellers


Days in Hospital


Days Outside Hospital


Total days in India



Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer

  • There are several variables that increase the risk of a person developing bladder cancer.
  • Age: With age, the risk of bladder cancer increases. Around 90% of diagnosed individuals are older than 55 years of age.
  • Smoking is one of the main risk factors. People who smoke are at least 4 times more likely than non-smokers to get bladder cancer. Tobacco produces carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents and accounts for half of all cancers of the bladder.
  • Gender: Men are three to four times more likely to get bladder cancer than women.
  • Genetic and family history: There is a greater chance of developing bladder cancer in people with family members with bladder cancer. Bladder cancer risk is also associated with changes in genes, such as GST and NAT, which are responsible for the breakdown of certain toxins.
  • Chronic bladder infection: Long-term urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney and bladder stones with long-term bladder catheters are often associated with bladder catheter growth. There is also a risk factor for an untreated infection known as schistosomiasis, caused by parasitic worms entering the bladder (mainly in Africa and the Middle East).
  • A higher risk of bladder cancer has also been associated with arsenic in drinking water. The risk of exposure to arsenic depends on the location of your home and the source of your drinking water.
  • The second biggest risk factor for blood cancer is exposure to some chemicals. Some synthetic chemicals, such as those used in the dyeing, clothing, painting, leather tanning or printing industries, raise the risk of bladder cancer. Some naturally occurring chemicals, aromatic amines, and aristolochic acid-containing herbal supplements have also been associated with bladder cancer.
  • Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Secondary Disease: Long-term treatment with a chemotherapy drug may irritate the bladder. There is a greater chance of developing bladder cancer for people who have been treated with this drug.

Bladder Cancer Diagnosis

  • Several tests and techniques are used to investigate the individual signs of bladder cancer in the urine and bladder. Such assessments for diagnosis include:Urinalysis: a basic test conducted to examine the urine sample for blood and other substances. In the presence of certain substances such as glucose, red blood cells (RBCs), etc., this test uses chemical dipsticks that change color.

    Cytology of urine: A urine sample is examined under a microscope to search for pre-cancer or cancer cells for this examination.

    Cystoscopy: The urologist moves a cystoscope through the opening of the urethra and into the bladder to study the inner lining of the bladder for this operation. A thin tube with a lens and a camera attached to it is a cystoscope. Typically, to make the operation painless and relaxing, the patient is given a local anaesthetic cream, which is added to the urethra.

  • Biopsy: If anomalies are found during a cystoscopy, a biopsy procedure called transurethral resection of a bladder tumour is provided to the patient (TURBT). This requires the removal of the tumour (abnormal area), which is then screened for cancer. Cancer often tends to grow in more than one area, so more than one sample is taken for testing to confirm if cancer has spread along with some nearby bladder muscles.
  • Imaging scans: These scans allow the specialist to analyze whether cancer has spread to the structures near the bladder, urinary tract, adjacent lymph nodes, or other organs for a more accurate image of the bladder. Such tests for imaging include:
    • An X-ray procedure that uses a dye to demonstrate the kidneys, ureters, and bladder and to help display tumours of the urinary tract. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP):
    • CT Scanning
    • The MRI
    • Ultrasonics
    • Scan of bone (to check for spread to the bone)

Treatment Options for Bladder Cancer in India

  • Depending on the point, many treatment options are available for bladder cancer in India, and other variables such as patient health and preference are available.


    It includes the removal during surgery of cancer and associated tissues. Depending on the stage and extent of cancer, there are numerous forms of surgery available. For bladder cancer, surgical choices include:

    Trans-Urethral Bladder Tumor Resection (TURBT): This technique is used both for treatment and for diagnosis. A cytoscope (a narrow tube with a light and a camera) is inserted into the bladder via the urethra during this surgery. At the end of the cytoscope, a thin wire loop is attached and is used to remove irregular tissues or burn the laser or high-energy electricity tumour (fulgation). For TURBT, local anaesthesia is placed on the patient. This is the most common treatment choice for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in the early stages.

    Cystectomy: All or part of the bladder is removed. This is carried out where there is invasive cancer. It consists of the following forms:

    Radial cystectomy: The removal of the whole bladder and nearby lymph nodes is involved in this surgery. This procedure is performed when the cancer has penetrated the muscle wall and is big. In males, the nearby organs that are removed during this operation are the prostate and seminal vesicles. In women, the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and part of the vagina are the organs that are removed. The surgeon then provides another path for urine from the body to move out.

  • Partial cystectomy: A segmental cystectomy is also known. Along with the portion of the muscle layer that cancer has penetrated, only a portion of the bladder is removed. The biggest advantage of this surgery is that after recovering from the procedure, the patient gets to retain the bladder and can urinate normally.Urinary Diversion: In order to create an alternative way to store and transfer urine, reconstructive surgery. Depending on the medical condition and the choice of the patient, various forms of operations may be performed. The three forms are:
  • Incontinent Diversion: For this a portion of the intestine is removed by the surgeon and connected to the ureters to create a passageway for urine to pass out of the body. So the urine flows from the opening, called the stoma, through the skin in front of the abdomen, through this passageway from the kidneys to outside the body. In small quantities, the urine continually comes out and is collected in a small bag put over the stoma. There’s no regulation over the flow of urine in this procedure.
  • Continent Diversion: Part of the small or large intestine is used in this approach to create a pouch that functions within the body as a urinary reservoir, and one end of the pouch is connected to the stoma. In the pouch, a valve is produced which allows the storage of urine. The patient likes this approach since there is no need for a bag outside of the body. By inserting a catheter into the stoma, urine may be drained away.
  • Neobladder: This is a newer process in which a new bladder (neobladder) is created by the surgeon from the part of the intestine and is attached to the urethra. This technique routes the urine back into the urethra and restores urination. So the patient will usually pass the urine out.


The use of drugs to kill cancer cells by preventing their ability to divide and expand requires this treatment. The procedure can be performed at the same time with one anticancer drug or a mixture of different drugs (combination drug). Bladder cancer chemotherapy consists of two types:

  • Intravesical chemotherapy: This procedure is intended for the early stages of cancer and is delivered directly into the bladder by a chemotherapy drug.
  • Systemic chemotherapy: The medications are delivered as a tablet for this treatment, or inserted into the vein or muscle from which they penetrate the bloodstream and spread across the body.

Radiation Theraphy

This includes the use of high-energy x-rays to destroy and stop cancer cells from developing. Two forms of radiotherapy exist:

  • External beam radiation: This is the most common form of radiation therapy that uses a system outside the body to direct radiation directly to cancer.
  • Internal-beam radiation/Brachytherapy: This treatment incorporates radioactive implants that can be inserted near or directly into cancer, such as needles, seeds, or catheters.
  • Radiation therapy, alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy, is commonly used following surgery (TURBT) to kill any residual cancer cells or as part of advanced-stage cancer pre-treatment or to alleviate symptoms such as pain and bleeding caused by advanced bladder cancer.


Biological therapy is also known. This treatment requires the use of medication to improve the immune system of a person to help them identify cancer cells and combat them. In order to enhance or target the immune system or restore function, it requires the use of substances created by the body or in a laboratory. One example of biologic agents used in immunotherapy after the TURBT treatment is the BCG vaccine. Atezolizumab, avelumab, nivolumab, etc., are other medicines that are used. Every 2 to 3 weeks, the medications used are given as intravenous (IV) infusions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is the stage of bladder cancer determined?

A: The stage of cancer of the bladder is categorized on the basis of:

  • Appearance under the microscope of cancer cells
  • The size of the tumour and its presence in neighboring areas
  • Number of lymph nodes near the bladder affected
  • Metastasis, meaning that cancer spreads to other tissues, such as the liver and lungs,

Q: In India, what is the success rate for the treatment of bladder cancer?

A: In general, there are greater chances of successful treatment and recovery for people diagnosed with cancer at an early stage. People can prevent cancer from spreading and have a good quality of life with proper treatment and timely detection.

Q: How many sessions of radiation therapy are required?

A: Generally, radiation therapy lasts for approximately 15 minutes a day and is normally given for five to six weeks every day. 25 to 30 doses or fractions of radiation are frequently used to treat a patient.

Q: For every case, is bladder cancer surgery required?

A: No, surgery is not recommended as a treatment for bladder cancer in all patients. Although it is one of the key treatment choices, a multidisciplinary team of physicians decides a treatment plan based on the age, health condition, cancer stage, and location of the individual, as well as other factors.

Transurethral resection (TUR), which involves the removal of abnormal tissue or tumours from the bladder, is the most common form of surgery for bladder cancer treatment. The removal of all or most parts of the bladder is another form of operation known as a cystectomy.

Q: In men and women, are the signs of bladder cancer different?

A: For women and men, bladder cancer symptoms are often the same. Blood in the urine, which may be widely confused as menstrual blood by women, and thus ignored, is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. If they have blood in the urine, men are more likely to remember, and bladder cancer is most also diagnosed.

Q: Are cancer treatment free in India?

A: It is funded by the Indian government and provides free-of-cost treatment to people living below the poverty line  and it is applicaple for ndian citizens only. A govt. Approved Almashia Healthcare is  an only NGO who support Afgani, bangladesh and African Patients to get treatment on Discounted rates and on cheaper rates. Almasiha Healthcare also provides cancer medicines  at least 40 to 60 percent cheaper rates.

Q: How long will you live if you have bladder cancer?


Q: Is a 2 cm bladder tumor big?

A: CPT codes 52234 (small, defined as <2 cm resection), 52235 (medium, defined as 2–5 cm), and 52240 (large, defined as >5 cm) were queried to stratify the data into three cohorts

Q: Can you live without your bladder?

A: If you‘ve had your bladder removed, you‘ll need to get used to a new way to pass urine from your body. The operation you had, called a cystectomy, is a lifelong change.

Q: Is there an artificial bladder?


Q: How long is recovery after radical cystectomy?

A: Many people can return to work or their usual activities 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. But you will probably need 6 to 8 weeks to fully recover from the surgery.

Top Doctors for Bladder Cancer Treatment In India

Top Hospitals for Bladder Cancer Treatment In India