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UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY · ROBOTIC SURGERY
Robotic Bladder Cancer Surgery in Turkey
Assoc. Prof. Tuncay Taş removes the bladder through small ports with the da Vinci robot in Istanbul. Then, in the same operation, he builds a new way for urine to leave the body.
20+ years
in urology
4-6 hours
robotic surgery
5-8 nights
in hospital
From $9,000
stay included
Career figures from Assoc. Prof. Taş's clinical profile. Prices show guide ranges, and your written quote follows the consultation.
Medically reviewed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuncay Taş, urologist · Updated October 2026
What is robotic bladder cancer surgery?
Robotic radical cystectomy removes the whole bladder and nearby lymph nodes through six small ports. The surgeon controls the robot from a 3D console, so you avoid a long open incision. Then, in the same session, he builds a new route for your urine.
Surgeons offer it when the tumour has grown into the bladder muscle, or when a high-risk surface tumour keeps returning after BCG. However, most bladder tumours never reach that point. In fact, half of US bladder cancers stay in the inner lining at diagnosis.
Yet the robot never operates on its own. Instead, Assoc. Prof. Taş guides every movement from the console. Meanwhile, the system filters tremor and magnifies the pelvis up to ten times.
Which situation brings you here?
Most patients reach this page with one pressing question after a biopsy or a scan. So pick the line closest to yours and jump straight to the answer.
Does your stage call for removing the bladder?
Depth decides almost everything in bladder cancer. First, a tumour that stays in the lining keeps the bladder. On the other hand, a tumour in the muscle usually means removing the bladder.
Ta or carcinoma in situ
What it means: The tumour stays in the inner lining
Usual first treatment: TURBT, then a chemotherapy dose or a BCG course into the bladder
T1, high grade
What it means: The tumour reaches the tissue under the lining, not the muscle
Usual first treatment: Repeat TURBT, then BCG; early cystectomy when it keeps returning
T2
What it means: The tumour grows into the bladder muscle
Usual first treatment: Chemotherapy, then robotic radical cystectomy
T3 or T4a
What it means: The tumour reaches the fat around the bladder or a nearby organ
Usual first treatment: Chemotherapy and cystectomy; chemoradiotherapy for selected patients
T4b or spread
What it means: The tumour reaches the pelvic wall or distant organs
Usual first treatment: Systemic treatment first; surgery only to control symptoms
Why the first resection matters so much
Your stage comes from TURBT, the camera operation that removes the tumour through the urethra. So the sample must include bladder muscle, or the true depth stays unknown. That is why Assoc. Prof. Taş reviews the pathology slides before he plans any cystectomy.
Who is a candidate for robotic radical cystectomy?
The operation suits patients whose cancer threatens the bladder but has not spread far. In addition, you need a heart and lungs fit enough for four to six hours of anaesthesia. Assoc. Prof. Taş recommends it in these situations:
A tumour that invades the bladder muscle (T2 to T4a), with no distant spread
A high-risk surface tumour that returns or persists after BCG
Carcinoma in situ that spreads through the lining despite treatment
Bleeding or pain from the tumour that other treatment cannot control
Why chemotherapy often comes first
For muscle-invasive cancer, three or four cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy usually come before surgery. This step clears hidden spread and adds an absolute 5 to 8 per cent to five-year survival. Then surgery follows four to six weeks after the last cycle.
When the bladder can stay
Some patients have a single tumour that TURBT removed completely. For them, trimodal therapy keeps the bladder: resection, then radiotherapy with chemotherapy. However, it demands strict camera checks, and cystectomy stays available if the cancer returns.
Robotic or open cystectomy: how do they compare?
Both approaches remove the same organs and the same lymph nodes. In fact, cancer control depends on the surgeon's skill rather than the tool. Still, recovery, blood loss and the precision of nerve sparing differ.
Incision
Open radical cystectomy: A long cut from the navel to the pubic bone
Robotic radical cystectomy: Six ports of about 1 cm, plus a small one to remove the bladder
Blood loss
Open radical cystectomy: Higher, and transfusion is more common
Robotic radical cystectomy: Clearly lower
View of nerves and urethra
Open radical cystectomy: Direct eye view
Robotic radical cystectomy: 3D view, magnified up to 10 times
Hospital stay
Open radical cystectomy: Often longer than a week
Robotic radical cystectomy: 5 to 8 nights
Lymph node removal
Open radical cystectomy: Extended pelvic dissection
Robotic radical cystectomy: The same extended dissection, usually more than 20 nodes
Nerve sparing and sexual function
In men, the erection nerves run beside the prostate. So when the tumour allows, Assoc. Prof. Taş preserves them with the help of the robotic view. In suitable women, he also keeps the uterus and vaginal wall, but cancer control always comes first.
Neobladder or ileal conduit: how will you pass urine?
Your kidneys keep making urine, so the surgeon builds a new route from bowel. There are three options, and your tumour, kidney function and own priorities decide the choice. Here is how they compare.
How it works
Ileal conduit: Urine flows through a small opening into an external bag
Neobladder: A new bladder joins the urethra, and you pass urine the usual way
Continent pouch: An inner pouch that you empty with a thin catheter
External bag
Ileal conduit: Yes
Neobladder: No
Continent pouch: No, only a small opening
Extra operating time
Ileal conduit: Shortest
Neobladder: About 1 to 1.5 hours more
Continent pouch: Longer
Urine control
Ileal conduit: Continuous flow into the bag
Neobladder: About 90 per cent dry by day, 70 to 80 per cent by night
Continent pouch: Catheter 4 to 6 times a day
Best suited to
Ileal conduit: Older patients, low kidney function, tumour in the urethra
Neobladder: A clear urethra, good kidney function, a motivated patient
Continent pouch: Patients who cannot have a neobladder but refuse a bag
An ileal conduit is simpler and fits fully with an active life, including swimming and travel. Meanwhile, a neobladder avoids the bag but asks for months of bladder training. So Assoc. Prof. Taş discusses both honestly with you before surgery.
Your three weeks in Istanbul, step by step
Most international patients stay in Istanbul for about three weeks. That window covers tests, surgery, the hospital stay, training and the pathology result.
01
Consultation and staging
First, Assoc. Prof. Taş examines you and reviews your scans and pathology slides in person. Then you complete a CT of the chest and abdomen, blood tests and an anaesthesia review. Finally, he explains the plan and the diversion he recommends.
02
Robotic radical cystectomy
Under general anaesthesia, he first removes the pelvic lymph nodes along the main vessels. Next, he frees and removes the bladder, with the prostate in men or the uterus in most women. The whole operation takes 4 to 6 hours.
03
Building the urinary diversion
He then shapes 15 to 60 cm of small bowel into a conduit or a neobladder. Next, he joins the ureters to it, sometimes through a small cut that speeds up the bowel step.
04
Recovery, training and flight home
You walk on the first day, and your bowel usually wakes up within three to five days. Before discharge, a stoma nurse teaches you bag or catheter care. Then pathology arrives in 7 to 10 days, and you fly home with a written plan.
Recovery after robotic cystectomy, week by week
Radical cystectomy is the largest operation in urology, so recovery takes patience. Still, small ports mean less pain and an earlier return to walking than open surgery.
Days 1 to 2
You stand up, sip fluids and practise breathing exercises
Days 3 to 5
Your bowel starts working, and you move on to solid food
Days 5 to 8
Discharge to your hotel after stoma or catheter training
Weeks 2 to 3
Drains and stents come out, and most patients can fly home
Weeks 3 to 4
With a neobladder, the catheter comes out and timed voiding starts
Weeks 6 to 8
Return to work and light sport, but still no heavy lifting
Month 3
First scan, kidney function and vitamin B12 check at home
After that, you need scans and blood tests every three to six months for two years. Also, because surgeons use a piece of bowel, a yearly vitamin B12 check follows.
Warning signs after you get home
So call your doctor at once for fever, flank pain, vomiting or a swollen leg. Also, drink plenty of water and empty a neobladder on schedule.
What are the risks of robotic bladder surgery?
Radical cystectomy carries more risk than most urological operations. Still, the majority of problems are minor and settle without another procedure. So here is what every patient should know before deciding.
Slow bowel recovery: the most common problem, and it usually settles on its own within days.
Urinary infection and fever: common while stents and catheters stay in, and antibiotics treat it.
Narrowing at the ureter join: uncommon, and it usually responds to a minimally invasive fix.
Lymph fluid and blood clots: blood thinners and early walking keep both risks low.
Sexual function: erection problems in men and vaginal dryness in women are common, and nerve sparing reduces them.
How much does robotic bladder cancer surgery cost in Turkey?
Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion in Istanbul costs about $9,000 to $13,000, hospital stay included. By comparison, the same operation costs $40,000 to $80,000 in the United States. Private care in the United Kingdom, meanwhile, runs from £25,000 to £40,000.
Flexible cystoscopy, diagnosis or surveillance
Istanbul, Assoc. Prof. Taş: $300 to $600
United States: $1,500 to $3,500
United Kingdom (private): £800 to £1,500
TURBT, stay included
Istanbul, Assoc. Prof. Taş: $2,500 to $4,000
United States: $12,000 to $25,000
United Kingdom (private): £6,000 to £11,000
BCG course, six-week induction
Istanbul, Assoc. Prof. Taş: $1,500 to $2,800
United States: $8,000 to $18,000
United Kingdom (private): £4,000 to £8,000
Radical cystectomy with diversion, stay included
Istanbul, Assoc. Prof. Taş: $9,000 to $13,000
United States: $40,000 to $80,000
United Kingdom (private): £25,000 to £40,000
Your written quote follows the consultation. It covers the procedure, the surgeon fee, hospital care, pathology and aftercare.
In addition, the team arranges your hotel and transfers. Chemotherapy before surgery, when needed, carries a separate per-cycle price.
Why the price is lower in Istanbul
The gap comes from running costs, not from cheaper care. For example, salaries, hospital overheads and insurance premiums cost far less in Turkey. So the same robot and the same surgical standard cost a fraction of a US bill.
Questions to ask any surgeon before cystectomy abroad
A good surgeon welcomes these questions, so do not hold back. In fact, clear answers tell you more than any brochure.
Do I need chemotherapy first? Ask whether cisplatin suits your kidney function, and where you will receive it.
Which diversion suits me, and why? A neobladder needs a clear urethra and good kidney function.
How many lymph nodes will you remove? An extended dissection usually removes more than 20 nodes.
Who trains me in stoma or catheter care? Confirm a stoma nurse sees you before discharge.
What if a problem starts after I fly home? Make sure you have a direct contact and written records for your local doctor.
Travelling from the US, Canada or the UK
Most North American and British patients come for two reasons: a long wait or a high private bill. Either way, a few simple steps then make the trip smooth.
Before you fly
Bring your CT or MRI images on a disc or link, plus the written reports.
Ask your hospital to release the TURBT pathology slides or blocks for review.
Bring a list of your medicines, especially blood thinners, and check your insurer's rules.
Waiting times at home
In England, the NHS measures cancer care against a 62-day target from urgent referral to first treatment. Canadian patients often describe long waits for cystoscopy and specialist surgery too. In Istanbul, by contrast, your consultation and operation usually fall within the same fortnight.
Back home
Finally, you leave with your pathology report, operation notes and a five-year surveillance schedule in English. So your local urologist and stoma nurse can take over with full information.
Why patients choose Assoc. Prof. Tuncay Taş
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuncay Taş is a urologist with more than 20 years of experience. He also founded Safe Urology Clinic in Istanbul, and patients travel to him from over 60 countries.
Medical degree from Istanbul University School of Medicine, 2004
Urology residency at the University of Health Sciences, Taksim Training and Research Hospital
Fellowship in urological oncology and laparoscopic urology, Heidelberg University, Germany
Robotic surgery in JCI-accredited partner hospitals in Istanbul that run the da Vinci system
Member of the European Association of Urology and the Endourological Society
He also publishes research on uro-oncology training and laparoscopic skills. Read his full background on the About Us page, or meet the wider surgical oncology team.
Frequently asked questions
How long does robotic radical cystectomy take?
It usually takes 4 to 6 hours, including the urinary diversion. A neobladder adds about 1 to 1.5 hours compared with an ileal conduit.
How long will I stay in hospital?
Most patients stay 5 to 8 nights. Your bowel recovery and your stoma or catheter training decide the exact day of discharge.
How long should I plan to stay in Istanbul?
Plan for about three weeks. That covers tests, surgery, the hospital stay, training and the pathology result before your flight home.
Can I pass urine normally after bladder removal?
Yes, if you have a neobladder. You then pass urine through the urethra, and about 90 per cent stay dry by day.
Is the urostomy bag permanent?
Yes, with an ileal conduit the bag stays for life. Still, most patients learn to change it within days and return to sport, swimming and travel.
Do I need chemotherapy before surgery?
For muscle-invasive cancer, cisplatin-based chemotherapy usually comes first, because it improves survival. If your kidneys cannot handle cisplatin, surgery goes ahead directly.
How much does robotic cystectomy cost in Turkey?
With Assoc. Prof. Taş in Istanbul, radical cystectomy with diversion costs about $9,000 to $13,000, hospital stay included. You receive a written quote after your consultation.
Will I keep my sexual function?
It depends on the tumour's position. When it allows, nerve sparing protects erections. Rehabilitation also starts early in men and women.
Can bladder cancer be cured with surgery?
Often, yes, when the cancer has not spread. US National Cancer Institute data show 73.0 per cent five-year relative survival for localised bladder cancer.
When can I fly home after cystectomy?
Most patients fly about two to three weeks after surgery, once drains and stents come out. Walking during the flight and blood thinners lower the clot risk.
Assoc. Prof. Taş's published research
These peer-reviewed papers come from Assoc. Prof. Taş's own work in uro-oncology and minimally invasive surgery.
Current status of uro-oncology training during urology residency and the need for fellowship programs: An international questionnaire study. Turkish Journal of Urology, 2020. Co-author.
Do 'standard laparoscopic box trainers' represent real-life conditions during transperitoneal laparoscopical interventions of the upper tract? Urologia, 2019. First author.
An unusual cause of hematuria; primary epiploic appendagitis. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 2014. Co-author.
Public health information
This page informs and does not replace an in-person medical consultation. So treatment decisions always follow your own examination, scans and pathology.
Talk to Assoc. Prof. Taş about your bladder tumour
Book a consultation and get a clear plan, a written quote and dates that suit your trip.
