Bladder Cancer - How To Identify It?

Bladder cancer is an abnormal growth in the tissue lining the inner surface of the bladder. According to research done by the National Institute of Health, 17,000 women and 45,000 men approximately are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year.

There are three common types of bladder cancer: transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Bladder cancer can be diagnosed early as its signs and symptoms are prominent, mentioned below are few of the signs that indicate the presence of cancer:

1. Blood in your urine: The most common sign of bladder cancer is Hematuria, which is the presence of blood in the urine. The blood often changes the colour of urine from yellow to pink, orange or even darker shades of red. In rare cases, the colour of urine doesn’t change, but the presence of blood is found when urinalysis (urine test) is conducted. The presence of blood can be seen on one day and absent the other day. The urine can remain clear for a few weeks, but eventually, blood will reappear in the urine if you have bladder cancer. Blood in your urine can also be caused by other infections.
2. Painful and frequent urination: The next sign of bladder cancer is painful and frequent urination. The pain originates in the bladder and results in discomfort during urination. If you feel pain, stinging or a burning sensation during urination, it is a sign that you may be suffering from bladder cancer. You may also feel the need to urinate frequently. You might also have trouble urinating.
3. Urinary Incontinence: Another common sign of bladder cancer is urinary incontinence which results when you don’t have control of your bladder. In some cases, people empty their bladder completely, whereas in other cases, people experience minor leakage. If you experience frequent urinary incontinence, you must get a checkup done by your general physician.
4. Pain in the abdominal area and the lower back: If you feel extreme pain in the abdominal area and lower back, it can be a sign of bladder cancer. This is a sign of advanced bladder cancer. When the bladder cancer has spread to other body parts, it can result in lower back pain, abdominal pain, and swelling in the feet. Weight loss and weakness are also common signs.

Though these are the common signs and symptoms of bladder cancer, many of these signs can also be due to other infections. Therefore, it is important to get a checkup done immediately if you notice any of the above-mentioned signs. This will help in detecting the actual cause and manage the condition at the right time.