Bladder Cancer Signs & Symptoms
The symptoms of bladder cancer can vary from person to person. The most common symptom is visible blood in the urine, called hematuria. Sometimes there are very small amounts of blood in the urine that can only be found by having a test done.
Other common symptoms of bladder cancer include:
- Frequent urination
- Pain or burning during urination
- Feeling as though you need to urinate even if your bladder isn’t full
- Urinating several times during the night
There are other non-cancerous medical conditions that can cause blood in the urine. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing for bladder cancer and other non-cancerous conditions.
When the cancer has grown large or spread beyond the bladder to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:
- Inability to urinate
- Lower back pain on one side of the body
- Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss
- Fatigue
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Jaundice
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling in the feet
Keep in mind that urinary tract infections, kidney or bladder stones, or other problems related to the kidney could be the cause of some of these symptoms, not cancer. Still, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your doctor for an official diagnosis and treatment for the problems you’re experiencing.
There are several tests that can be done to determine if cancer is present. Learn more about the test used to diagnose bladder cancer.