Bladder cancer

Dear Ask The Doctor: If you have visible bright red blood in your urine, is it possible that biopsies of the bladder would come up negative for bladder cancer?

Dear RoseAnn: There are numerous causes of blood in the urine (hematuria). Bladder cancer is just one of the possible causes so it is possible to have a negative biopsy even though you are having hematuria. Other causes of hematuria include urinary tract infections, urinary tract stones, bleeding disorders and some medications. Bladder polyps as well may cause hematuria but these tumors are not cancerous.