What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
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Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is a significant health concern, with various symptoms that can often be mistaken for other less severe conditions. Understanding these symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and effective treatment.
Visible Hematuria: The Most Common Symptom
Visible hematuria, or blood in the urine, is the most common and significant symptom of bladder cancer. It is often painless and can be seen in over 80% of patients diagnosed with the disease . The presence of visible hematuria has a high positive predictive value (PPV) for bladder cancer, especially in older adults .
Irritative Urinary Symptoms
Patients with bladder cancer may also experience irritative urinary symptoms such as dysuria (painful urination), frequent urination, and urgency (the sudden, strong need to urinate) . These symptoms are less specific and can be associated with various other conditions, including urinary tract infections and prostatitis, which can delay the diagnosis of bladder cancer.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms that may be associated with bladder cancer include:
- Lower back pain: This can occur on one side of the body and is often related to the spread of the disease .
- Abdominal pain: Some patients report pain in the abdominal region.
- Urinary tract infections: Recurrent infections can be a sign of bladder cancer.
- Raised white blood cell count and inflammatory markers: These can indicate an underlying issue, including cancer.
Less Common Symptoms
In some cases, bladder cancer can present with less common symptoms such as:
- Blood clots in the urine: This can be a more severe form of hematuria.
- Constipation: Although not a direct symptom, it has been associated with bladder cancer.
- Raised creatinine levels: This can indicate impaired kidney function, which may be related to bladder cancer.
Symptoms of Metastatic Bladder Cancer
When bladder cancer metastasizes, it can cause additional symptoms depending on the location of the metastasis. For instance, pulmonary manifestations can include pleural effusion, pulmonary embolism, and other lung-related issues.
Conclusion
Bladder cancer presents with a variety of symptoms, the most common being visible hematuria. Other symptoms include irritative urinary symptoms, lower back pain, and abdominal pain. Early recognition of these symptoms is essential for prompt diagnosis and treatment. If you experience any of these symptoms, especially visible hematuria, it is important to seek medical evaluation to rule out bladder cancer or other serious conditions.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
The association between symptoms and bladder or renal tract cancer in primary care: a systematic review.
Clinical features of bladder cancer in primary care.
Bladder cancer.
Carcinoma of bladder: A rare case report
Pulmonary manifestations of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
Bladder cancer: ESMO Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
Bladder cancer
Symptoms and diagnostic delays in bladder cancer with high risk of recurrence: results from a prospective FinnBladder 9 trial
Bladder Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Bladder cancer
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