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CloseDiagnosis of Bladder Cancer
Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
The signs and symptoms of bladder cancer vary among individuals and include:
Hematuria - Blood in the urine (hematuria) is often the first warning signal and the most common symptom of bladder cancer. It has been estimated that approximately 80% to 90% of patients with bladder cancer develop hematuria which is often painless. In some cases, sufficient numbers of red blood cells are present to turn the color of the urine to dark brown or red. This is known as gross hematuria and is easily recognized by the patient upon urinating. In other cases, insufficient numbers of red blood cells may be present in the urine to cause any evident changes in the color of the urine but red blood cells can be detected by examining the urine under a microscope. This type of hematuria is called microscopic hematuria and may also indicate the presence of bladder cancer. It is important to note that although hematuria is the most common symptom of bladder cancer, it may also be caused by other underlying conditions including:
- urinary tract infections
- kidney or bladder stones
- benign tumors of the urinary tract
Patients who present with either gross or microscopic hematuria must be carefully evaluated by a urologist not only to rule out bladder cancer, but also to determine other possible underlying conditions that may be the cause of blood in the urine.
Disturbances in Bladder Habits - About 20% of individuals with bladder cancer also notice unusual disturbances or changes in bladder habits including:
- dysuria - a painful or burning sensation on urination
- polyuria increased frequency of urination
- sudden urges to urinate
- strangury - severe pain in the pelvic area usually occurring at the end of urination
Systemic Symptoms - Although uncommon, a small subset of patients with metastatic disease may present with systemic (constitutional) symptoms that may include:
- fever
- fatigue
- weight loss
- lack of appetite
- abdominal pain
- back pain