Some of the symptoms of bladder cancer are the same as those of a bladder infection or other medical conditions, so you shouldn't automatically fear that you have cancer if you experience them. You should see a doctor for testing as soon as possible though, as both infections and cancer of the bladder should be treated immediately. Blood in the urine, pain and burning and frequent urination are the main symptoms of bladder cancer.
Blood in the urine is one of the most common symptoms of bladder cancer, but it may also signal kidney problems or other conditions. The medical term for blood in the urine is hematuria, and hematuria may only be visible microscopically or it may be visible to the naked eye. If you notice a little blood in your urine even once, you should go to a doctor to get it checked as you could still be bleeding even when you no longer see signs of any blood. When hematuria is visible, it may look either red or brown in color and may just be a few drops.
Because you could still be bleeding and not know it, it's important not to think that the symptoms of blood in the urine have gone away. They don't just disappear and should be checked out as soon as possible by a doctor. Hematuria does not always mean bladder cancer, but in case it is bladder cancer it's important to treat it early as this can be a difficult cancer to treat in later stages.
Pain and burning during urination may be signs of a bladder infection or symptoms of bladder cancer. Often the pain in both conditions presents as a stinging sensation. A visit to the doctor should be made right away to rule out bladder cancer in most cases and treat the infection. Again, the symptoms most likely won't mean cancer, but early treatment is best when treating bladder cancer so early diagnosis is important.
Frequent urination is another symptom of bladder cancer, but many other conditions such as diabetes also have this symptom. If you notice a change in how often you are urinating, you should get this checked medically as soon as possible to find out the cause. The feeling that you still need to urinate after already doing so and urinating for shorter periods are other possible symptoms of bladder cancer that you should discuss with your doctor. //Jennifer Watts
