10 August 2026
Brenda Irving with cats, Bonnie (left) and Missy
A grandmother who has beaten bladder cancer three times has urged people to be part of research after joining a national study looking at a less invasive way to detect the disease.
Security guard Brenda Irving had a tumour removed on each occasion after they were discovered, having all her treatment at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital.
The mum of three and grandmother of five was one of 4,616 people across England who joined BC-Recon, a study supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) into the effectiveness of a urine test, instead of using a camera inspecting the bladder. Known as a flexi cystoscopy, it can be uncomfortable, embarrassing and result in complications.
Brenda, 60, said: “It was explained to me that they were trying to find a way to test that was less invasive. All I had to do was give a sample – so I took the kit home, did it, labelled it up and sent it back through the post.
“It was so easy and not invasive and it was a lot quicker than waiting in hospital. I’d definitely do it again if I was asked because it’s so quick.
“If anyone is asked to do this I would tell them to do it. If that’s all you have to do then more people might come forward to get checked.
“The staff were friendly, professional and made me feel at ease. I had everything explained to me.”
Brenda, who lives in Essington, has now received two clear tests so is cancer free. She is now only tested yearly after previous six-monthly check-ups.
BC Recon team outside A36 Pharmacy Trials Centre
University of Birmingham researchers, funded by Cancer Research UK, developed a urine test identifying the mutated DNA which comes from bladder cancer.
If proven accurate enough, the new test might be rolled out so some patients might be able to avoid a cystoscopy.
National Institute for Health and Care Research Regional Delivery Network (NIHR RDN) funding provided two staff at New Cross Hospital – Alison Bland, Research Nurse, and Yasmin Hussain, RDN Agile Research Delivery Team Team Manager – for more than six months to recruit volunteers to the study.
They signed up most of the 547 participants at the hospital – part of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and host of the RDN in the West Midlands.
Mr David Mak, Consultant Robotic and Urological Surgeon at RWT and Principal Investigator on BC-Recon, said: “The support provided through the NIHR RDN was instrumental to the success of BC-Recon at New Cross Hospital.
“Without this support, delivering the study at this scale would have been extremely challenging alongside routine NHS services.”
Alison and Yasmin pre-screened potential participants to the clinics to determine their eligibility. Day-long clinics were held for two or three days a week.
BC-Recon has now closed with the results expected later this year.
Would you like to be part of research? If so, you can sign up on the Be Part of Research website