Bladder cancer is a type of urological tumor that is extremely prone to recurrence, and regular checkups are very important, and cystoscopy is one of the most critical ones, which should be done every 3-6 months. By probing the instrument into the bladder, the doctor can directly observe whether the bladder tumor is recurring or not, and if it is recurring, he/she can also observe the shape and size of the tumor through cystoscopy to assess the severity. As the saying goes, “seeing is believing”, so cystoscopy must be done, as some smaller tumors are difficult to be detected by ultrasound.
It can be used in combination with several tests such as ultrasound to extend the interval between cystoscopies to as long as six months, but it should never be used as a substitute for cystoscopy.
As the examination instruments rub the urethra, there may be some degree of uroepithelial abrasion, so the examination may be somewhat uncomfortable and painful, but not very painful; if the patient has urethral stricture or prostatic hyperplasia, it may be necessary to do urethral dilatation first, and it will be more difficult to do cystoscopy in these patients. Most patients have some symptoms of hematuria and urinary urgency and pain after cystoscopy, which lasts only about one or two days, so there is no need to worry too much about the pain of cystoscopy. To monitor tumor recurrence, cystoscopy must be done. However, if the patient himself has urinary tract infection and inflammation (e.g. cystitis due to irrigation), cystoscopy will cause aggravation of symptoms and needs to be postponed.