Bladder Cancer Test

There is a new test for bladder cancer. The BladderChek test screens urine for high levels of the protein NMP22, which is associated with bladder cancer. The test costs about $50. It can be done in a doctor's office, and results are available within 50 minutes. It is good for detecting a recurrence of bladder cancer and useful as a supplement to other tests for diagnosing it initially. Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in American men and the 10th most common in women—about one American in 600 has had it. BladderChek is appropriate for people over age 40 who have hematuria—blood in urine—one of the first signs of bladder cancer. Smokers with hematuria should have the test even if they are under age 40.