What Are the 5 Warning Signs of Bladder Cancer?

• Hematuria (blood in urine) is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Finding blood in urine (apart from menstrual blood) often alarms the person and makes them seek medical attention. Bleeding may cause the urine to turn red, pink, or orange. There may be a few specks of blood in urine in some people, whereas in some people, blood in normal-appearing urine may be detected on lab examination.
• Needing to urinate more often
• Pain while passing urine
• Back pain
• Pelvic pain

Besides these five warning symptoms, there may be other symptoms such as

• Feeling of incomplete bowel emptying even after urination
• Thin urine stream
• Burning during urination
• Difficulty passing urine

These symptoms may be caused by other benign (noncancerous) conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or stones (calculi) in the bladder or kidney. Nonetheless, early diagnosis of bladder cancer provides better recovery. Hence, you must seek the physician’s help early.

In advanced stages of bladder cancer, there may be additional symptoms such as unintended weight loss, reduced appetite, fatigue, lethargy and even inability to urinate.

In advanced stages, cancer spreads to other parts of the body causing symptoms related to the site involved such as bone pain, difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting.