Signs Of Urinary Bladder Cancer

Treatment Of Stage Iv Bladder Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of stage IV bladder cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body may include the following:

• Urinary diversion or cystectomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Treatment of stage IV bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung, bone, or liver, may include the following:

• External radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Urinary diversion or cystectomy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• A clinical trial of new anticancer drugs.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.

What Do Women Need To Know About Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer can affect women at any age. Smoking is the greatest controllable risk factor. Smokers get bladder cancer twice as often as non-smokers. However, up to 50% of bladder cancer patients may have no history of smoking. Learn more about the risks associated with bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer symptoms may be identical to those of a bladder infection and the two problems may occur together. If symptoms do not disappear after treatment with antibiotics, insist upon further evaluation to determine whether bladder cancer is present. Bladder cancer has the highest recurrence rate of any form of cancerbetween 50-80 percent.

Watch our informative webinar, Women and Bladder Cancer the Unspoken Demographic.

Talking To Your Doctor About Bladder Symptoms

When you meet with your doctor, it’s important to share all the symptoms you’re experiencing and to be as specific as possible. It’s a good idea to prepare for your appointment by writing a list of your symptoms and the questions you would like to ask.

When you create a list of your symptoms, try to include the following:

• All the symptoms you have experienced
• How often and at what time of day the symptoms occur
• How long the symptoms last
• If the symptoms seem to be getting better or worse
• If the symptoms interfere with your usual daily activities
• If anything relieves or worsens these issues

In addition to having a detailed list of symptoms to bring to your appointment, be ready to share information such as all of the medications you take , your habits and lifestyle , and any major life changes or stressors you may be experiencing.

Most importantly, be sure to answer your doctor’s questions openly and honestly, as this will help them to achieve a timely and accurate diagnosis.

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New And Experimental Treatments

Several new treatments may prove useful in treating bladder cancer. Photodynamic therapy, used in early stage cancers, uses a laser light to activate a chemical that kills cancer cells. Some gene therapies use lab-created viruses to fight cancer. And targeted therapies aim to control the growth of cancer cells. You may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial of these or other cutting-edge treatments.

21) Carol & Mike Werner / Visuals Unlimited / Corbis

American Urological Association: Bladder Cancer.

American Urological Association Foundation: Hematuria.

Journal of the American Medical Association: Association Between Smoking and Risk of Bladder Cancer Among Men and Women.

Occupational & Environmental Medicine: Bladder cancer among hairdressers: a meta-analysis.

British Journal of Cancer: Occupation and bladder cancer: a cohort study in Sweden.

National Cancer Institute: Staging,Bladder Cancer Treatment,Drugs Approved for Bladder Cancer,SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Bladder.

NIH Research Matters: Smoking and Bladder Cancer.

ScienceDaily: Cigarette Smoking Implicated in Half of Bladder Cancers in Women Bladder Cancer Risk from Smoking Is Higher Than Previously Estimated, Study Confirms.

Stanford Cancer Institute: Information About Bladder Cancer.

World Health Organization: Tobacco Free Initiative Cancer.

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Bladder Problems And Symptoms

So how do you know you might have a problem with your bladder? Blood in the urine is the most common clinical sign associated with bladder cancer. Some patients also have pain in the area of the bladder.

When a patient urinates blood it is known as gross haematuria but often there may be blood in the urine without visible signs. Microscopic amounts of blood may be detected by a urine test called a urinalysis. This test can be part of a routine physical exam or to evaluate urinary symptoms .

Blood in the urine does not necessarily mean a person has bladder cancer. Haematuria can occur with non-cancerous conditions. These include other problems like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, and diseases of the kidney.

If a person also complains of pain in the area he or she might have a kidney stone rather than bladder cancer. Every patients presenting symptoms may be different.

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Treatment Of Recurrent Bladder Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of recurrentbladder cancer depends on previous treatmentand where the cancer has recurred. Treatment for recurrent bladder cancer mayinclude the following:

• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.

Treatment Of Stages Ii And Iii Bladder Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

• Transurethral resection with fulguration.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.

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Warning Signs & Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in males. It is actually the most recurrent diagnosis of urologic cancer, and it is widespread in countries of North and South America, Asia, and Europe.

The bladder is a structure from the urinary tract that collects the urine that initially comes from the kidneys and is transported into the bladder by the ureters. When the storage capacity of the bladder is met, we feel the urge to pass urine.

Bladder cancer develops when the linings of the bladder start to grow without any control. It mostly affects males, and when such growth is aggressive, it may spread quickly to other organs and cause metastasis. Therefore, it is vital to be able to identify bladder cancer from the start to be able to look for professional help if needed.

For that purpose, heres a list of the 10 most important warning signs and symptoms of bladder cancer.

Cancerous Tumours Of The Bladder

A cancerous tumour of the bladder can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. It can also spread to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumours are also called malignant tumours.

Bladder cancer is often divided into 3 groups based on how much it has grown into the bladder wall.

• Non-invasive bladder cancer is only in the inner lining of the bladder .
• Nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer has only grown into the connective tissue layer .
• Muscle-invasive bladder cancer has grown into the muscles deep within the bladder wall and sometimes into the fat that surrounds the bladder.

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Rare Symptoms Of Urinary Bladder Cancer

If the urinary bladder cancer passes to other body parts, you may develop some advanced diseases and experience the following generalized symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Trouble urinating
• Unintentional weight loss

Pain is also an indicator of a tumour spreading to other parts of the body. If you observe pain in flank or just above the pubic bone, it can be a rare sign of bladder cancer. Even the pain in the perineum also occurs due to urinary bladder cancer when it reaches the nearby tissues or organs.

Depending on which area the urinary bladder cancer is spreading, you may start experiencing some rare symptoms in those specific areas. For example:

• If urinary bladder cancer has spread to your lungs, it can cause a cough, breathlessness and cough with blood.
• If urinary bladder cancer has spread to your kidneys, it causes kidney problems that can further lead to swelling in your feet or legs.
• Even bone pain can occur if cancer spreads to the bones.
• Abdominal pain occurs if urinary bladder cancer spreads to lymph nodes in the stomach or liver.

Changes In Bladder Habits Or Symptoms Of Irritation

Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as:

• Having to urinate more often than usual
• Pain or burning during urination
• Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full
• Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
• Having to get up to urinate many times during the night

These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection , bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate . Still, its important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

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Why Does Bladder Cancer Happen

Most cases of bladder cancer appear to be caused by exposure to harmful substances, which lead to abnormal changes in the bladder’s cells over many years.

Tobacco smoke is a common cause and it’s estimated that half of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.

Contact with certain chemicals previously used in manufacturing is also known to cause bladder cancer. However, these substances have since been banned.

Read more about the causes of bladder cancer and preventing bladder cancer

Patients May Want To Think About Taking Part In A Clinical Trial

For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice. Clinical trials are part of the cancer research process. Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.

Many of today’s standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. Patients who take part in a clinical trial may receive the standard treatment or be among the first to receive a new treatment.

Patients who take part in clinical trials also help improve the way cancer will be treated in the future. Even when clinical trials do not lead to effective new treatments, they often answer important questions and help move research forward.

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What Is The Most Common Type Of Bladder Cancer

Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States. Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with chronic irritation of the bladder for instance, from an infection or from long-term use of a urinary catheter. Squamous cell bladder cancer is rare in the United States.

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Whats Usually The First Symptom Of Bladder Cancer

Blood in your pee is the most common bladder cancer symptom. That said, simply having blood in your pee isnt a sure sign of bladder cancer. Other conditions cause this issue, too. But you should contact a healthcare provider whenever you spot blood in your pee. Other bladder cancer symptoms include:

• Visible blood in your pee : Healthcare providers can also spot microscopic amounts of blood in pee when they do a urinalysis.
• Pain when you pee : This is a burning or stinging sensation that you may feel when you start to pee or after you pee. Men and DMAB may have pain in their penises before or after peeing.
• Needing to pee a lot: Frequent urination means youre peeing many times during a 24-hour period.
• Having trouble peeing: The flow of your pee may start and stop or the flow may not be as strong as usual.
• Persistent bladder infections: Bladder infections and bladder cancer symptoms have common symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider if you have a bladder infection that doesnt go away after treatment with antibiotics.

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When To See A Healthcare Provider

There are currently no guidelines or recommendations for screening people at risk of bladder cancer, including those who have significant risk factors. Clinical trials are ongoing to see if screening may detect bladder cancer early in some populations.

You should talk to your healthcare provider if:

• You notice any blood in your urine, even if you aren’t certain its blood, especially if persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms.
• You have any symptoms of abnormal urination, whether that means pain or burning, frequency, urgency, losing urine, difficulty starting or stopping your stream or just a sensation that something has changed.
• You have any other symptoms that just don’t feel right.

Bladder Cancer In Men Vs Women

Bladder cancer is 3 to 4 times more common in people assigned male at birth than in people assigned female at birth.

Researchers believe the increased prevalence of bladder cancer in those assigned male at birth may be due to differences in how carcinogens are metabolized before they pass through the bladder . Or it may be that male sex hormones promote tumor formation in the bladder, whereas female sex hormones inhibit this progression.

In contrast, people assigned female at birth tend to be diagnosed at later stages of the disease, do not respond as well to treatment, and have a higher cancer-specific mortality rate, so it’s especially important for those assigned female at birth to be aware of early symptoms and seek prompt evaluation.

One study looked at the prevalence of the early cancer symptoms in both sexes, concluding that:

• Visible hematuria was present in 65% of men and 68% of women.
• Dysuria was present in 32% of men and 44% of women.
• Urgency was present in 61% of men and 47% of women.
• Nocturia was present in 57% of men and 66% of women.

Painful urination is often dismissed as due to a bladder infection or friction and may be less likely to be investigated, particularly in women. One study found that 47% of female bladder cancer patients were treated for symptoms up to a year before a diagnosis was made, without receiving any further evaluation. A lower percentage of females than males saw a urologist as well.

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Signs Of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer called carcinoma that most often occurs in the inner lining of the bladder. The disease is caused by abnormal cellular growth leading to a malignant tumor. The most common sub-type of bladder cancer is transitional cell carcinoma , which develops in the urothelial cells that line the inner walls of the bladder. Doctors can often diagnose bladder cancer in the early stages when it is highly treatable. Identifying the signs is key to early detection, treatment, and recovery.

Is Bladder Cancer Curable If It Is Caught Early

When detected at an early stage, bladder cancer can usually be treated successfully whereas later-stage cancers may be more difficult to manage. This is reflected in the 5-year survival rate for bladder cancer. This rate refers to the estimated percentage of bladder cancer patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer for 5 years or more. When bladder cancer is diagnosed while still confined to the surface layer of the bladder, the 5-year survival rate is 96% in contrast, if the cancer has penetrated into deeper layers of the bladder wall the survival rate decreases to 69%5. It’s also important to keep in mind that people who have had bladder cancer are at risk of recurrence, so ongoing surveillance to detect recurrent bladder cancer at an early stage is essential.

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How Do I Take Care Of Myself

About half of all people with bladder cancer have early-stage cancer thats relatively easy to treat. But bladder cancer often comes back . People whove had bladder cancer will need regular checkups after treatment. Being vigilant about follow-up care is one thing you can do to take care of yourself. Here are some other suggestions from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network include:

• Follow a heart-healthy diet: Plan menus that include skinless poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Focus on high-fiber foods: Bladder cancer treatment may cause digestive issues and a fiber-rich diet may help.
• Get some exercise: Gentle exercise may help manage stress.
• Connect with others: Bladder cancer often comes back. Its not easy to have a rare disease thats likely to return. Connecting with people who understand what youre going through may help.

Urinary diversion

Some people with bladder cancer need surgery that removes their bladder and their bodies natural reservoir for pee. There are three types of urinary diversion surgeries. All three types involve surgically converting part of your intestine to become a passage tube for pee or a reservoir for storing pee.

Urinary diversion may be a challenging lifestyle change. If youll need urinary diversion surgery, ask your healthcare provider to explain each surgery types advantages and disadvantages. That way, youll know what to expect and how to take care of yourself.

Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Signs and symptoms often appear as the tumour gets bigger or grows deeper into the wall of the bladder. Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as bladder cancer.

The most common sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine . This may cause changes to the colour of the urine, such as turning it orange, pink or red. Sometimes the amount of blood in the urine is so small that you cant see it and it is only found during a urinalysis

Other signs and symptoms of bladder cancer may include:

• a need to urinate more often than usual
• an intense need to urinate
• burning or pain during urination
• difficulty urinating or having a weak stream of urine
• low back pain or pain in the pelvis

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