adult screening programme
Bladder cancer
About 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer in the UK each year. It is the 10th most common cancer. By the time of diagnosis, most bladder cancers are still limited to the bladder.
The condition is more common in older adults, with most new cases diagnosed in people aged 60 and above. Bladder cancer is also more common in men than in women.
Read more about bladder cancer on the NHS website.
UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in March 2026.
The UK NSC commissioned an evidence map in 2025 for screening for bladder cancer in adults. The map, published in 2026, found not enough evidence to warrant a new evidence review.
The UK NSC recommendation remains that screening is not recommended because there is no safe, precise and valid screening test for bladder cancer.
Supporting documents from the 2026 review
Evidence map
This document investigates whether a more detailed review can be conducted based on the available evidence.
Coversheet
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.
Supporting documents from the 2020 review
In 2020, the UK NSC did not recommend screening for this condition.
Bladder cancer evidence map UK NSC 15 07 2020
This document investigates whether a more detailed review can be conducted based on the available evidence.
Screening for bladder cancer evidence map Coversheet UK NSC 15 07 2020 Redacted
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.
Other supporting documents
- Evidence summary - bladder cancer (2015).pdf
- UKNSC coversheet & consultation responses - bladder cancer (2015).pdf
Review cycle
Date previous review completed: 2026
Next review estimated to be completed: 2029 to 2030.
To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.
Organisations interested in Bladder cancer
These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.
List of organisations
- Action Bladder Cancer UK
- Bladder Cancer Research Centre
- Cancer Research UK
- Fight Bladder Cancer
- Macmillan
- Northern Ireland Cancer Network
- Primary Care Urology Society
- Rarer Cancers Forum
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Nursing
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Physicians
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Society of Radiographers
- The British Association for Cancer Research
- The British Association of Urological Surgeons
- The Urology Foundation
- Urostomy Association
- Yorkshire Cancer Research
If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.