what are the symptoms of bladder cancer in a woman

What are the first signs and symptoms of bladder cancer?

 · The main symptoms of bladder cancer in women are blood in the urine, a burning sensation while urinating, flank pain, a distended…

What are signs of female bladder cancer?

 · The most common early symptoms of bladder cancer (increased urination, urgency, blood in the urine) mirror those of a UTI. Doctors sometimes believe a woman’s symptoms are due to a UTI, without confirming an infection. 17 If your doctor suspects you have a UTI, make sure a urine culture confirms the presence of a bacterial infection.

Do you know the early signs of bladder cancer?

For most people, the first symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, also called hematuria. Sometimes the blood is visible, prompting the patient to visit a doctor. Other times, blood is microscopic and is only discovered during either a routine lab test or one that was ordered after the patient reported other urinary symptoms.

What is usually the first symptom of bladder cancer?

In most cases, blood in the urine (called hematuria) is the first sign of bladder cancer. There may be enough blood to change the color of the urine to orange, pink, or, less often, dark red.

What causes bladder cancer in females?

While the exact cause of bladder cancer is not known, certain risk factors are linked to the disease, including tobacco smoking and exposure to certain chemicals and gases. Also, people with a family history of bladder cancer have a high risk of developing the disease.

What is the most common presenting symptom of bladder carcinoma?

The most common symptoms include the following: Hematuria (blood in the urine) — The most common sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine (hematuria). Hematuria caused by cancer is usually visible (turning the urine pink or red), intermittent, and not painful.

Do you feel ill with bladder cancer?

Nausea and vomiting. Burning or pain when you urinate, feeling the need to go often, or blood in urine. Diarrhea. Feeling tired.

How do I find out if I have bladder cancer?

Tests for bladder cancer look for different substances and/or cancer cells in the urine. Urinalysis: One way to test for bladder cancer is to check for blood in the urine ( hematuria). This can be done during a urinalysis, which is a simple test to check for blood and other substances in a sample of urine.

Where does bladder cancer hurt?

Bladder cancer can cause lower back pain when it reaches a more advanced form of the disease. The pain is typically only on one side of the back, but it can be centrally located. Lower back pain might occur once the tumors increase in size or cancer cells start to spread to other parts of your body.

What are the odds that a tumor in the bladder is cancerous?

Risk of bladder cancer Overall, the chance men will develop this cancer during their life is about 1 in 27. For women, the chance is about 1 in 89.

What are the symptoms of a cyst on your bladder?

Do bladder cysts cause symptoms?pain when you urinate.pain in your middle pelvic or flank region(s)blood in the urine.frequent urination.an urgent need to urinate.foul-smelling urine.urine incontinence.

What are the symptoms of a bladder infection in females?

SymptomsA strong, persistent urge to urinate.A burning sensation when urinating.Passing frequent, small amounts of urine.Urine that appears cloudy.Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine.Strong-smelling urine.More items…•

How does a urologist check for bladder cancer?

Cystoscopy. If bladder cancer is suspected, most doctors will recommend a cystoscopy. . A urologist uses a cystoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube with a light and a lens or a small video camera on the end.

Can bladder cancer affect bowel movements?

Cancer and cancer treatment may cause bowel or bladder changes or problems such as diarrhea, constipation, incontinence, or retention. Learn why they might happen and what to expect if they do.

How long can you have bladder cancer and not know it?

Even after reporting the problem to their doctors, blood in the urine may be initially misdiagnosed. It may be seen as a symptom of post-menopausal bleeding, simple cystitis or a urinary tract infection. As a result, a bladder cancer diagnosis can be overlooked for a year or more.

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

Being unable to urinate. Lower back pain on one side. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Feeling tired or weak. Swelling in the feet. Bone pain. Again, many of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than bladder cancer, but it’s important to have them checked.

Why is bladder cancer so early?

Bladder cancer can often be found early because it causes blood in the urine or other urinary symptoms that cause a person to see a health care provider.

How long does urine stay clear after bladder cancer?

Blood may be present one day and absent the next, with the urine remaining clear for weeks or even months. But if a person has bladder cancer, at some point the blood reappears.

Can bladder cancer cause a change in urination?

Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as: Having to urinate more often than usual. Pain or burning during urination. Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full. Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream.

How do you know if you have bladder cancer?

Flank pain may also occur if the urine is unable to flow from the kidney to the bladder as the result a tumor blocking its way. Additionally, some women may notice pain in other areas of the body, such as the bones, once the cancer has spread. To avoid enduring these signs of late-stage bladder cancer in women, women are advised to see a doctor if they notice the initial symptoms, so they can get tests done to determine whether the issue is cancer or a simple infection.

What does it mean when you have blood in your urine?

Blood in the urine is a common symptom of bladder cancer.

Do women with bladder cancer have lower survival rates than men?

Women who are diagnosed with bladder cancer have lower survival rates than men.

How to tell if you have bladder cancer?

Be sure to report them to your physician immediately. The most common sign—blood in the urine— can be visible (though it may sometimes appear dark brown or orange) but could also only be detected under a microscopic examination.

Can you get bladder cancer twice as often as non smokers?

Smokers get bladder cancer twice as often as non-smokers . • Bladder cancer symptoms may be identical to those of a bladder infection and the two problems may occur together. If symptoms do not disappear after treatment with antibiotics, insist upon further evaluation to determine whether bladder cancer is present.

Does bladder cancer cause a burning sensation?

Most bleeding associated with bladder cancer is painless. Close to 30 percent of bladder cancer patients experience burning, frequent urination or a sensation of incomplete emptying when they urinate. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Is bladder cancer treatable?

Awareness is the key: in most cases, bladder cancer is treatable, but prompt diagnosis is critical .

Can bladder cancer be misdiagnosed?

Even after reporting the problem to their doctors, blood in the urin e may be initially misdiagnosed. It may be seen as a symptom of post-menopausal bleeding, simple cystitis or as a urinary tract infection. As a result, a bladder cancer diagnosis can be overlooked for a year or more.

Is bladder cancer more prevalent in men?

Bladder cancer has long been considered a disease of older men. Though it is more prevalent in men, studies have shown that women are more likely to present more advanced tumors. Women often have a worse prognosis than men at almost every stage of the disease.

Is bladder cancer a manageable disease?

The good news is that in most cases, if caught early, bladder cancer is a manageable disease. There are tens of thousands of women bladder cancer survivors living today. Read their stories

How do you know if you have bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include: Blood in urine (hematuria), which may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test. Frequent urination. Painful urination. Back pain.

What type of cancer is a bladder cancer?

Types of bladder cancer include: Urothelial carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma , previously called transitional cell carcinoma, occurs in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Urothelial cells expand when your bladder is full and contract when your bladder is empty.

What is the most common type of bladder cancer?

Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States. Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with chronic irritation of the bladder — for instance, from an infection or from long-term use of a urinary catheter. Squamous cell bladder cancer is rare in the United States.

What is the male urinary system?

Male urinary system. Your urinary system — which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra — removes waste from your body through urine. Your kidneys, located in the rear portion of your upper abdomen, produce urine by filtering waste and fluid from your blood. Bladder cancer is a common type …

Why are men more likely to get bladder cancer than women?

Men are more likely to develop bladder cancer than women are. Exposure to certain chemicals. Your kidneys play a key role in filtering harmful chemicals from your bloodstream and moving them into your bladder. Because of this, it’s thought that being around certain chemicals may increase the risk of bladder cancer.

How does bladder cancer develop?

Bladder cancer develops when cells in the bladder begin to grow abnormally, forming a tumor in the bladder. Bladder cancer begins when cells in the bladder develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains instructions that tell the cell what to do.

Where does bladder cancer start?

Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer that begins in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the inside of your bladder. Urothelial cells are also found in your kidneys and the tubes (ureters) …

How to diagnose bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is typically diagnosed by reviewing a patient’s health history and physical symptoms. 10 Your doctor will also perform a physical exam of the pelvis to look for an abnormal mass. For women, this means a recto-vaginal exam .

What is the most common type of bladder cancer?

Urothelial carcinoma ( transitional cell carcinoma): Urothelial carcinoma is by far the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for over 90% of all cases. 6 This cancer starts when the urothelial cells that line the bladder start to grow out of control. Urothelial cells also line other parts of the urinary tract. If you are diagnosed with bladder cancer, your entire urinary tract will be checked for tumors.

How many people will die from bladder cancer in 2021?

Bladder cancer is three to four times more common in men than in women. The American Cancer Society estimated the diagnosis of 64,280 new cases in men and 19,450 new cases in women in 2021 in the United States, and that bladder cancer would cause 12,260 deaths in men and 4,940 deaths in women. 1

How often does bladder cancer recur?

Even after complete remission is achieved, bladder cancers recur up to 80% of the time . 16 For low-grade cancers, women have a higher risk of recurrence than men. 14 Ongoing monitoring after having bladder cancer is required.

How long does bladder cancer last?

When diagnosed early, bladder cancer is highly treatable. The average five-year survival rate for bladder cancer is 77%.

What age group is most likely to get bladder cancer?

Age is the most important risk factor. Over 90% of bladder cancers occur in those over age 55, and 80% occur in those 65 and older. 9

What does it mean when you have blood in your urine?

Blood in the urine ( hematuria) is the most common early sign of bladder cancer . The blood may affect the urine’s color, giving it a faintly pink or tea-colored cast, or it may appear bright red.

What is the first symptom of bladder cancer?

Bladder Cancer Symptoms. For most people, the first symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, also called hematuria. Sometimes the blood is visible, prompting the patient to visit a doctor. Other times, blood is microscopic and is only discovered during either a routine lab test or one that was ordered after the patient reported other …

Do you have to be seen for bladder cancer?

The presence of one or all of these signs does not mean you have cancer, but you should be seen by a physician, as these are abnormal bodily functions. Sometimes those diagnosed with bladder cancer do not experience any bleeding or pain. That’s why routine screening and physicals are very important.

Early Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

In the earliest stages of bladder cancer, most people do not have symptoms. When early symptoms do occur, they can have many other potential causes that are more likely than bladder cancer. Early symptoms include:

Later Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

Other symptoms are much less common or may occur later during bladder cancer. Some of these symptoms may be due to the spread of a bladder cancer to other regions of the body, and include: 4

Bladder Cancer in Men vs. Women

Bladder cancer is 3 to 4 times more common in people assigned male at birth than in people assigned female at birth. 5

Complications

There are very few complications during the earliest stages of bladder cancer. These may include: 4

When to See a Healthcare Provider

There are currently no guidelines or recommendations for screening people at risk of bladder cancer, including those who have significant risk factors. Clinical trials are ongoing to see if screening may detect bladder cancer early in some populations. 9

Summary

The most common early symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. The blood either may be visible to the naked eye or only able to be seen under a microscope. Other common symptoms include painful urination, increased frequency or urgency to urinate, needing to urinate in the middle of the night, and pain in one side of the lower back.

A Word From Verywell

Catching bladder cancer in the earliest stages greatly increases your chance for a cure.

How many women have bladder cancer in 2016?

Bladder Cancer in Women. In 2016, about 18,000 women will be told they have bladder cancer. Your bladder is an organ in your pelvic area that holds urine. Most bladder cancers start in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. One of the first signs of bladder cancer is blood in the urine ( hematuria ).

Why do women ignore blood in their urine?

Many women ignore blood in their urine because they think it’s normal in females. Other signs of bladder cancer are frequent or painful passing of urine, back pain, stomach pain and the feeling as if you need to go to the bathroom right away (urgency). Be sure to see a health care provider if you have any of these signs.

What is the Urology Care Foundation?

The Urology Care Foundation offers free, evidence-based patient education materials on urologic health to patients, healthcare providers, and the general public.

How do we support urological care?

We support and improve urological care by funding research, developing patient education and pursuing philanthropic support, worldwide.

Can you get bladder cancer at any age?

Bladder cancer can affect women at any age. One of the most common signs of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Because early signs are often ignored, women have a higher chance of being told they have an advanced stage of bladder cancer than men. Smoking is by far the greatest risk factor. Smokers get bladder cancer twice as often as non-smokers.

Does not smoking affect bladder health?

Not smoking, eating well and being active are lifestyle changes that can have positive effects on your bladder health.

Is smoking a risk factor for bladder cancer?

Smoking is by far the greatest risk factor. Smokers get bladder cancer twice as often as non-smokers. Even ex-smokers are still at risk. Bladder cancer symptoms may be the same as those of a bladder infection.