Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer Every Woman Needs To Know

The symptoms of bladder cancer unfold in different forms; and you need to be aware of these future complications. Read to know the signs of bladder cancer that every woman must be aware of.

By Sravia Sivaram

Friday, April 28, 2017, 15:29

Bladder cancer is something that not many women pay attention to, as they mainly are concerned about breast cancer or ovarian cancer.

Bladder cancer occurs when the cells in the bladder change and don't behave the way they are supposed to. These changes happen more often than you realize, and they may not always result in cancer.

Some of these changes include conditions like urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones or benign tumours like papilloma or fibroma.

These changes can actually lead to tumours or cancer. Bladder cancer usually starts spreading from the urothelium, which lines the insides of the bladder, ureters, urethra and renal pelvis.

Bladder Cancer: Types

There are many ways of classifying bladder cancer. However, the most important way is in terms of classifying it as non-invasive and invasive.

Non-invasive cancer occurs only in the cells of the urothelium and for this the treatment is more likely to be successful. And invasive bladder cancer occurs when the cancer spreads to the connective tissue or the bladder wall muscles.

Also read: Almond Milk: Is It Healthy Or Harmful?

This article will let you watch out for some of the signs of bladder cancer. To know more, continue scrolling.

Bladder Cancer: Treatment

The treatment of bladder cancer depends on the stage and category of cancer. The primary methods of treatment that are currently in existence are surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation.

Surgery can be worse, as it can remove the tumour and even a small part of the bladder along with it. Sometimes, it can also remove the entire bladder in case of extreme situations.

Now, continue reading to know more about the symptoms of bladder cancer.

1. Blood In Urine:

The presence of blood or blood clots in the urine, also known as haematuria, is one of the top symptoms of bladder cancer. Haematuria occurs in 8 or 9 out of 10 people who have bladder cancer. It isn't usually painful.

2. Pain During Urination:

This is also one of the common symptoms of bladder cancer. Pain during urination, also known as dysuria, is characterized by the sharp pain that occurs while passing urine. This is one of the early warning signs of bladder cancer which woman should be aware of.

3. Urinating In Small Amounts:

If you feel that you're urinating in small amounts from time to time, then it is high time that you consulted your doctor. Frequent feeling of urination in very small amounts is usually a symptom of bladder cancer.

4. Frequency In UTIs:

If you feel there is an increase in the occurrence of UTIs frequently, then this may not be due to this infection alone. It is better to get it checked at the earliest in order to avoid serious consequences.

5. Pain:

If you feel there is a pain in the lower back around the kidneys, then this is definitely a sign that you need to be wary of and must get it diagnosed immediately.

6. Swelling In The Lower Legs:

Swelling of legs can occur due to various reasons. But if this swelling persists for several days, then you need to be very careful about this. This is one of the top bladder cancer symptoms seen in women.

7. Weight Loss:

This symptom occurs when the bladder cancer starts spreading to the other parts. If persistent weight loss occurs, then this is a point of concern.

8. Bone Pain:

If you experience bone pain or pain in the rectal, anal or pelvic area, then you shouldn't be delaying seeing the doctor. You must immediately get it tested as soon as possible.

9. Anaemia:

There are high chances for anaemia to occur. It happens due to excessive bleeding or blood loss, as a result of bladder cancer.

Sometimes, the symptoms of bladder cancer can be very similar to the symptoms of other bladder conditions. Hence, you need to be aware of this and get it checked.

Bladder Cancer: How To Prevent It?

It is easier to prevent cancer than to treat it. As you already know that 'prevention is better than cure', it is always best to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout your life to prevent this condition.

Some of the factors that increase your chance of developing bladder cancer are due to toxin and toxin buildup in the body and bladder.

This includes exposure to environmental chemicals or toxins, exposure to radiation, having chronic bladder infections and irritations, air pollution, pesticides as well as certain cancer and diabetes medication.

Bladder Cancer: Why Is It Dangerous?

Bladder cancer can actually affect your likelihood of survival, especially if the cancer has spread to the muscle wall or beyond. The danger mark for bladder cancer depends on several factors like:

How far the cancer cells have gone into the bladder lining
Number of tumours
Diametre of the tumours
The grade of cancer
Whether there are high-grade changes in the bladder lining
Whether this is a recurrence or how often a tumour has recurred

Bladder Cancer: Can Smoking Trigger This Condition?

If you have been wondering if smoking can cause bladder cancer, here is the answer. It has been found that smoking can actually increase your risk of bladder cancer. This is because smoking will lead to the accumulation of harmful chemicals in the urine.

When you smoke, the body processes the chemicals that are present in the smoke and excretes some of them in the urine. These harmful chemicals are known to damage the lining of the bladder and can increase the risk of a person contracting bladder cancer.

Hence, it is important to keep yourself informed about the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer in order to avert any dire consequences.