Bladder cancer can develop without causing someone to feel noticeably sick, which is why recognizing potential warning signs is so important.
According to the World Bladder Cancer Coalition, one in four bladder cancer patients are women. The disease affects an estimated 84,530 people in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Of those, about 64,730 are men and 19,800 are women.
Arthur Hamberger, M.D., learned firsthand how significant one of the main warning signs – blood in the urine – could be in 2018. At the time, he noticed a faint pink discoloration in his urine, describing it as “the slightest shade of pink you can imagine.”
The change happened just once, but Hamberger, who had already survived cancer three times, decided not to take any chances.
Bladder cancer symptoms
The scans revealed a sizable bladder tumor as well as a mass in his pancreas.
“I had a fairly large tumour in my bladder and a mass in my pancreas,” Arthur, who was 73 at the time of his bladder cancer diagnosis, recalled to MD Anderson Cancer Center, according to Tyla.
Further testing and treatment followed, and doctors were able to remove the bladder tumor without removing his bladder. He also underwent surgery to remove the pancreatic cancer.
Hamberger is now a six-time cancer survivor. Looking back, he believes that the seemingly insignificant change in his urine played a crucial role in uncovering both conditions.
“If it were not for that little bit of blood in my urine, they would have never found the tumour in my pancreas,” he explained.
Aggressive bladder cancer
Margo Wickersham also noticed blood in her urine, although her experience unfolded over two consecutive mornings.
“It was just a little blood, and it was pink, not red,” she shared. “But I was a 57-year-old woman and post-menopausal, so there were not a lot of reasons to explain it.”
Initially, Wickersham provided a urine sample to check for a urinary tract infection (UTI). When the test ruled out an infection, she decided to seek further medical attention.
Wickersham ultimately arranged to see a urologist, who performed a cystoscopy.
The examination uncovered a small bladder tumor. Wickersham was subsequently diagnosed with highly aggressive stage 1 bladder cancer. Further evaluation at MD Anderson Cancer Center confirmed the diagnosis and also identified plasmacytoid cancer, an extremely rare form of bladder cancer known for its tendency to return.
Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, Wickersham had not experienced any obvious signs that she was ill beyond the blood in her urine.
“You can’t always go by how you feel. I felt completely fine, but I had blood in my urine,” she explained. “If your urine has blood in it, that’s a red flag. See a doctor.”
Blood in your urine is the main warning sign
A person’s likelihood of developing cancer can depend on several factors, and while blood in the urine is the primary symptom identified by the NHS, other changes can also warrant medical attention.
Potential symptoms of bladder cancer include:
- Pain, burning, stinging or itching when urinating.
- Repeated urinary tract infections.
- Needing to urinate more frequently than usual.
- Experiencing a sudden, urgent need to urinate.
- Losing your appetite or losing weight without trying.
- Pain in the back or lower abdomen.
- Aching, pain or tenderness in the bones.
- Unexplained fatigue or a general feeling of being unwell.
These symptoms do not automatically mean someone has bladder cancer, as they can also be associated with other conditions. However, persistent or unexplained symptoms should be evaluated by a health care professional.
This is not medical advice. If you have any concerns about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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