Bladder cancer symptoms are usually clear and easy to notice. If any of these symptoms are present, it may be worth making an appointment to see a doctor: Blood in the urine, frequent urination, painful urination or back pain.
The most common symptom is blood in the urine, called hematuria. It's often slightly rusty to bright red in color. You may see blood in your urine at one point, then not see it again for a while. Sometimes there are very small amounts of blood in the urine that can only be found by having a test done.
Urothelial carcinoma (also called transitional cell carcinoma) is cancer that begins in the urothelial cells, which line the urethra, bladder, ureters, renal pelvis, and some other organs. Almost all bladder cancers are urothelial carcinomas.
If you have cancer, you may have trouble controlling your bladder, a condition called urinary incontinence. The problem can happen because of a tumor near your bladder or spine, or because of certain cancer treatments, like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
2. Changes in bathroom habits. Significant changes in bodily functions can indicate colon, prostate or bladder cancer, among other cancers. Warning signs include persistent constipation or diarrhea; black or red blood in your stool; black, tarry stools; more frequent urination; and blood in your urine.
Bladder cancer is perhaps the most obvious cancer to find in urine, but evidence suggests that remnants of other cancers – like kidney, prostate and cervical cancer – can also get into pee.
Stage I is a form of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that has spread into the connective tissue but has not reached the muscle layers of the bladder. Stage I bladder cancer (non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer). Cancer has spread into the connective tissue but has not reached the muscle layers of the bladder.
Tests to diagnose bladder cancer
If bladder cancer is suspected, these tests may be performed to diagnose the disease: Physical exam. Blood test: Blood samples are used to measure certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body.
Urine cytology refers to the microscopic examination of cells from urine samples. This procedure can potentially detect cancerous cells in the urine of individuals with bladder cancer.
These include: weight loss for no reason. pain in your back, lower tummy or bones. feeling tired and unwell.
Cystoscopy is the key diagnostic procedure for bladder cancer. It allows the doctor to see inside the body with a thin, lighted, flexible tube called a cystoscope. Flexible cystoscopy is performed in a doctor's office and does not require anesthesia, which is medication that blocks the awareness of pain.
a need to urinate on a more frequent basis. sudden urges to urinate. a burning sensation when passing urine.
Can bladder cancer go undetected for years? If symptoms such as blood in the urine and changes in urinary habits are ignored by an individual and/or repeatedly misdiagnosed, it's possible that bladder cancer may not be detected for months or, in some cases, even years.
Where can bladder cancer spread to? Not all bladder cancers will spread. But If it does it's most likely to spread to the structures close to the bladder, such as the ureters, urethra, prostate, vagina, or into the pelvis.
An ultrasound of the urinary tract can help assess the size of a bladder tumor and whether a bladder cancer has spread. Ultrasound is able to differentiate between fluid-filled cysts and solid tumors, however, it cannot determine if a tumor is cancerous.
Pathology Tests
The most efficient, noninvasive and inexpensive test is a urinalysis/cytology. Here, a sample of urine is taken from the patient and evaluated for cancer cells, red and white blood cells (which fight urinary tract infections), and microscopic hematuria or infection.
Bladder cancer mostly affects older people. About 90% of people with bladder cancer are older than 55. The average age people are diagnosed with bladder cancer is 73. It is estimated that 16,710 deaths (12,160 men and 4,550 women) from this disease will occur in the United States in 2023.
Bladder cancer is highly treatable when it is diagnosed in the early stages. The main types of treatments for bladder cancer include: Surgery: Bladder cancer treatment almost always has a surgical component that may be combined with other non-invasive approaches, including those listed below.
The mean age at diagnosis of bladder cancer is 73 years old, which is older than the average age (65 years old) at diagnosis of all cancers.
In many cases, the first noticeable sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria), which can make the urine appear dark yellow, light pink, bright red or reddish-brown.
Symptoms if bladder cancer has spread to your liver
feeling sick. poor appetite and weight loss. a swollen tummy (called ascites)
Around 20% to 30% of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer have irritative bladder symptoms, which include frequent urination, pain or burning during urination, and the urgent need to urinate despite having a bladder that is not full.