Bladder Cancer Symptoms
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The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria). The symptom is most recognizable when the urine is colored bright red, pink or even a darker tinge, similar in appearance to cola or tea. The amount of visible blood in the urine might not be consistent day to day. The urine may appear clear of blood for a couple days. But red blood cells may still be present in the urine, and small amounts of blood in the urine sometimes are only detected when the urine is analyzed under a microscope in the lab (urinalysis).
Hematuria (blood in the urine) may be the only symptom in the early stages of bladder cancer. Other symptoms, like painful urination or an urgency to pee all the time may not develop until the cancer has reached more advanced stages. In sum, bladder cancer symptoms may include:
- Blood in urine (hematuria)
- Sensation that you have to pee all the time
- Painful burning during urination (dysuria)
- Lower back pain
Understanding Bladder Cancer Symptoms
Having one or more these symptoms does not mean you have cancer. There are many other conditions including kidney stones, urinary tract infections (UTI), an enlarged prostate, or overactive bladder that may also cause these symptoms. For example, blood in the urine may be caused by kidney stones and a UTI may cause dysuria (painful urination). It is important to have these symptoms evaluated by a doctor to determine the cause. Even if it is not cancer, kidney stones or an infection may require medical treatment.
Diagnosing Your Symptoms
Your doctor may want to run a cytology, a type of urine test that looks for abnormal cells shed from the bladder lining in the urine. If this was the first occurrence of blood in the urine, your doctor may decide to run another test to see if the red blood cells are still in the urine. And for a thorough evaluation of the condition, because of all the possible causes to consider, your doctor might want a closer examination of your bladder. He or she may perform a cystoscopy. This is a procedure where a small tube fitted with a camera is inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. This allows your doctor to look for any abnormalities or tumors on the lining of the bladder that may be causing your symptoms.
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