Bladder cancer – Symptoms and Causes

Verified By Apollo Hospitals October 1, 2024

Cancer careLiving Healthy

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers among both men and women. It occurs when the cells of your urinary bladder grow uncontrollably. It can be seen commonly in people who are over 55 years of age, making up about 90% of diagnosed cases. Bladder cancer often spreads to various other regions of the body like lungs, bones, and liver. Here are some of the symptoms and causes of bladder cancer.

Symptoms of bladder cancer

The first sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine with no pain while urinating. Numerous symptoms exist as an indication for bladder cancer like fatigue, weight loss, and bone tenderness. However, the following are more specific symptoms:
Blood in the urine (hematuria)
Painful urination
Urgent urination
Urinary incontinence
Pain in the abdominal area
Pain in the lower back
Blood or blood clots in the urine
Pain or burning sensation during urination
Frequent urination
lynch syndrome
Sensing the need to urinate throughout the night
Not being able to pass urine
Lower back pain on 1 side of the body

If your bladder cancer advances, you may also experience some other symptoms including:

Swelling of the lower legs
Pain in the lower back in the area near the kidneys
Pelvic growths in the area of the bladder

You may also sense some other symptoms when your bladder cancer has spread throughout the body.

Pain in the bones
Pain in the pelvic, anal cancer, or rectal areas.
Anemia
Weight loss

If you experience any of the above symptoms especially blood in your urine make an online appointment with Medical Professional to get it checked out.

What Causes Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer develops because of abnormal cell growth in the bladder. They develop mutations that cause them to grow to multiply quickly and uncontrollably and not die. These abnormal cells invade other tissues and form a tumor. However, men are more likely to get bladder cancer over women.

Causes of Bladder Cancer:

According to researchers, the exact causes of most bladder cancers are not yet evidenced. But some risk factors like smoking, diet and exposure to chemicals play a major role in the development of Bladder cancer. The common causes of Bladder Cancer may include the following:

Smoking is a common cause of bladder cancer. This is because the chemicals present in the tobacco smoke are absorbed into the blood and pass through the kidneys and then collect in the urine. These chemicals damage the inner parts of your bladder and increase the chances of getting cancer.
People working in industries like hairdressers, painters, machinists, printers have the chance of getting bladder cancer.
Exposure to harmful chemicals over a long period of time results in bladder cancer.
Taking certain diabetes medications called Pioglitazone may increase your chance of getting bladder cancer.
Past radiation exposure.
Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.
Chronic irritation of the lining of the bladder.
Parasitic infections.
Hereditary factors.

Conclusion

Major bladder cancer symptoms are just like the ones from a bladder infection. However, both infection and cancer require medical assistance.
It is safer to consult a Best Oncologistand get yourself checked thoroughly.