Bladder cancer: How to identify the signs of tumours in your urine
As with many cancers, if you can spot the early warning signs of a tumorous growth in your bladder, you stand a very good chance of an early diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Those who catch the disease early see a 95 per cent surivival rate in their first year, with half of all diagnosed patients living for ten years or more after the cancer is found - making bladder cancer one of the more survivable of the nearly 200 cancers the human body can produce.
Previously, without early detection, bladder cancer was one of the most deadly. Due to greater public awareness of the cancer's symptoms, primarily blood in your urine, death rates related to the disease have almost halved in the last 30 years, despite it being the eighth most diagnosed cancer in the country.
Once a doctor becomes concerned that a symptom could be caused by bladder cancer, a test can be done on urine to detect the disease, or a cystoscopy can be used to see inside of the urinary tract and bladder to look for tumorous growths.
Bladder cancer: How to identify the signs of tumours in your urine
Haematuria - Blood in your pee
Though not the only warning sign, finding blood in your urine is a major sign that you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Called haematuria, bloody urine can take many forms. Sometimes pinkish, bright red, brownish, or just lightly streaked with blood, having any blood in your urine can be an indicator of issues with your bladder.
Though it does not necessarily mean that you have bladder cancer, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other health issues.
The American Cancer Society says: "These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate (in men). Still, it’s important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed."
However, of those with bladder cancer, 80 per cent reported seeing blood in their urine. This is because bladder cancer causes cells to grow in the inner lining of the bladder. These cells can gather together and form tumors in the bladder lining, which can cause bleeding.
Other key bladder cancer warning signs
- Urinating more frequently than normalFeeling a very sudden and immediate urge to urinateA burning sensation when you urinatePain in your lower abdomen, sometimes in your stomach or backFeeling a very sudden and immediate urge to urinate
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- A burning sensation when you urinate
- Pain in your lower abdomen, sometimes in your stomach or back
- Feeling tired and unwell
- Loss of appetite
- Bone pain
While the majority of bladder cancer patients are diagnosed with primary bladder cancer, mainly affecting the cells lining the bladder, sometimes these cancers can metastasise, or spread to other cells outside of the bladder.
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The NHS describes this advanced bladder cancer as: "When the cancerous cells spread beyond the lining, into the surrounding bladder muscle, it's referred to as muscle-invasive bladder cancer (or invasive bladder cancer). This is less common, but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body."
This could cause other symptoms related to other cancers, but feeling pain in your bones could be a sign that the cancerous cells have spread.
If you experience any of these symptoms it is important you speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Even if you do not have visible blood in your urine, tests can be done to find microscopic blood and detect potentially cancerous growths.
Reference: Mirror: William Morgan