bladder cancer symptom

The symptoms for bladder cancer are not specific. Many other diseases, including inflammatory conditions, involving the bladder and kidney may cause similar symptoms. However, since early detection is important in curing bladder cancer, if you have these symptoms, you should bring them to the attention of your doctor.

The most common first symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine called hematuria. Hematuria is either visible or microscopic.

o Gross hematuria describes urine that appears red or brown and can be seen with the naked eye

o Microscopic hematuria means the red blood cells are visible if a urine sample is examined under a microscope

Irritative urination symptoms may also be associated with bladder cancer and include:

o pain and burning on urination,

o a sense of incomplete emptying of the bladder after urination and

o having to urinate more frequently or at shorter intervals.

The symptoms above could also indicate problems (less serious) other than bladder cancer.

Bladder Cancer Symptoms

Bladder cancer is common disease in the United States. Research tells us that it occurs mainly in industrialized countries, such as the US, France, and Canada.

Bladder cancer symptoms are few, yet very noticeable. Bladder cancer symptoms include:

Blood in the urine: The presence of blood in urine, is called hematuria. Blood can either be seen by the eye, in which it is called gross hematuria. Blood can also be seen under a microscope, and it is then called microscopic hematuria.

Pain during urination: Pain during urination is called dysuria. Pain can range from mild to severe.

Frequent urination: Having to urinate often and during the night is also a symptom.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer accounts for approximately 90% of cancers of the urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, urethra). The bladder is an organ located in the pelvic cavity that stores and discharges urine. Urine is produced by the kidneys, carried to the bladder by the ureters, and discharged from the bladder through the urethra.

Types

Bladder cancer usually originates in the bladder lining, which consists of a mucous layer of surface cells that expand and deflate (transitional epithelial cells), smooth muscle, and a fibrous layer. Tumors are categorized as low-stage (superficial) or high-stage (muscle invasive).

In industrialized countries (e.g., United States, Canada, France), more than 90% of cases originate in the transitional epithelial cells (called transitional cell carcinoma; TCC). In developing countries, 75% of cases are squamous cell carcinomas caused by Schistosoma haematobium (parasitic organism) infection. Rare types of bladder cancer include small cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, primary lymphoma, and sarcoma.

Incidence and Prevalence

According to the National Cancer Institute, the highest incidence of bladder cancer occurs in industrialized countries such as the United States, Canada, and France. Incidence is lowest in Asia and South America, where it is about 70% lower than in the United States.

Incidence of bladder cancer increases with age. People over the age of 70 develop the disease 2 to 3 times more often than those aged 55-69 and 15 to 20 times more often than those aged 30-54.

Bladder cancer is 2 to 3 times more common in men. In the United States, approximately 38,000 men and 15,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year. Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common type in women. The disease is more prevalent in Caucasians than in African Americans and Hispanics.