Reagan Drops Camp David Weekend for Hospital Test : Will Have Urological Testing

President Reagan will go to Bethesda Naval Hospital Saturday for a urological examination, White House spokesman Larry Speakes announced today.

The examination is not related to Reagan’s intestinal cancer surgery a year ago, Speakes said.

He said the examination will be similar to one conducted in April, 1982, “at which time all results were normal.”

A local anesthetic will be used for the examination, Speakes said, and Vice President George Bush will not be called back from his vacation in Maine.

The President and Nancy Reagan had tentatively planned to go to the retreat at Camp David, Md., for the weekend, but another spokesman said earlier in the day that the trip had been canceled.

Long Time in Office

On Saturday, Reagan, 75, will have been in office longer than any President since Dwight D. Eisenhower, who completed his two terms.

Speakes said Reagan will fly by helicopter to the hospital following his regular noon radio address, to be delivered from the Oval Office, and will return to the White House afterward.

The spokesman said that the procedures will include an intravenous urogram and bladder cystoscopic examination. The examination will be conducted by the naval hospital physicians under the supervision of Dr. Burton Smith, the White House physician who is a urologist.

Repeatedly saying he did not know whether Reagan had any symptoms or discomfort that would prompt an examination, Speakes reported that the President decided last week to undergo the checkup. The timing was decided on Monday, he said.

Announcement Delayed

Reporters were not told of the decision to go to the hospital until shortly after 1 p.m., Speakes said, because he, the spokesman, was out of town and wanted to make the announcement himself. He said he first learned of the decision on Thursday. He also noted that Reagan customarily goes for his checkups on Friday afternoon.

Reagan had planned to lead 78 senior White House staffers in taking a urine test Monday as part of his new anti-drug-user crusade.

Speakes said that Reagan will instead be given the drug test before his urological examination “because medication administered in connection with the examination could cause an inaccurate result.”

He said Reagan has had problems with bladder stones since he was governor of California in 1967.

Urinary Discomfort

Four years ago, the President underwent 90 minutes of tests after complaining of discomfort in the urinary tract which began after a trip around the country. At the time, the condition was treated with antibiotics and disappeared.

While saying he did not know if Reagan had any symptoms of a recurrence of his problem, Speakes said doctors would be “looking for some abnormality in the urinary tract of the bladder to see if there’s a growth, a discoloration or stone.”

The White House spokesman said that Reagan “picked this time because he will be traveling a lot after Labor Day,” referring to at least 14 speeches the President will make this fall in behalf of Republican candidates.

Some Pain Reported

Asked if there would be a prostate examination, he said “I’m sure they will do what is prudent.”

One White House aide, who asked not to be identified, said that Reagan had experienced some pain. Asked for symptoms, he said: “I do not know the answer to that.”

When asked why the plans for a checkup were kept secret for a week, Speakes said: “As always the Reagans are very specific about how they want their medical announcements handled.”

Nancy Reagan put her foot down on detailed medical reports after Reagan’s cancer operation on the ground that there should be more doctor-patient confidentiality in terms of his health.