When cells in the bladder’s inner lining mutate and start abnormally multiplying, it is a case of bladder cancer. In such a case, even the healthy cells present in that region of the bladder are impacted, causing them to die. Therefore, any abnormal cell activity in the bladder directly affects the passing of urine by the body. Among the most common cancer types in the country, bladder cancer ranks sixth overall.

Symptoms of bladder cancer
It is important to detect bladder cancer early because the effectiveness of the treatment is better in this stage of the disease. While there is no recommendation to conduct routine screening tests for bladder cancer in the general population, certain sections of the population may be at higher risk. Screening tests would be highly beneficial to detect the early signs of bladder cancer in this section of the population. Here are a few bladder cancer symptoms to look out for:

Blood in the urine

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is the appearance of blood in the urine, which is also called hematuria. Sometimes, the amount of blood is so small that it is visible only in laboratory tests. At other times, these levels in the urine increase with the progression of cancer. Usually, the blood passes into the urine without causing pain. The urine will be discolored and darker than usual. Hematuria is also a symptom of multiple other health conditions, including kidney diseases, serious infections, and other types of cancer. Consult a doctor to confirm whether the presence of blood in the urine is a bladder cancer symptom.

Constant urination

Constant urination is an early sign of bladder cancer that refers to the need to visit the restroom multiple times during the day, certainly more than usual. The patient may also get up several times during the night to urinate. The number of times a person may want to urinate during the day will differ from person to person. When the urgent need to urinate impacts the quality of life, it becomes an issue and can be described as a health disorder. The patient usually feels overwhelming distress if not using the restroom quite frequently.

Constant and urgent urination is also a sign of other diseases, including diabetes, prostate issues, and bladder infections that are not cancer. The issue will need to be examined by a medical professional to correctly diagnose bladder cancer.

Painful urination

The medical term for pain during urination is dysuria, which happens to be a symptom of bladder cancer. One may experience a burning or stinging sensation while passing urine. However, painful urination is also a symptom of other medical conditions like kidney stones, inflammatory diseases of the pelvic region, prostate issues, and sexually transmitted diseases. While cancer cannot be determined based on this single symptom, painful urination is considered an early sign of bladder cancer.

Difficulty in urination

In addition to the pain and frequency, urination also becomes a very difficult exercise. It is possible that patients feel they are not able to completely empty their bladder even when they feel the urge to urinate.

Pain in the lower back of the body

Bladder cancer causes pain in the lower back and often on one side of the body. This symptom of bladder cancer often indicates that the tumor has grown and spread to other areas.

Fatigue and unexplained weight loss

As bladder cancer progresses, the patient may start experiencing a loss of appetite, which results in loss of body mass, weakness, and tiredness.

Some of the above symptoms also occur when the patient is suffering from other health disorders, such as urinary tract infections or diabetes. Similar symptoms may cause confusion. Consult a healthcare professional to make an accurate diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Diagnosis of bladder cancer

Doctors may recommend urine and imaging tests, including computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to confirm the presence of bladder cancer. Cystoscopy is also a technique used to diagnose bladder cancer, which involves inserting a small-size camera into the bladder through the urethra. This test lets doctors take a look at the lining to check for cancer. They may also remove a small tissue sample for a biopsy, which will confirm the presence of cancer cells.

Risk factors of bladder cancer

The chances of developing bladder cancer in a patient are affected by quite a few risk factors. These include smoking, aging, family history of bladder cancer, previous cancer treatment, birth defects of the bladder, and exposure to chemicals. Out of the 81,000 people diagnosed with bladder cancer in the country each year, the average age is 73 years. The chances of men being affected by bladder cancer are nearly four times more than that of women. Caucasian males are more likely to develop bladder cancer than any other demographic.