UTIs are very common, and most women who have had one recognize the symptoms when they appear. However, if you experience symptoms that seem similar to a UTI, it can sometimes be a sign that something else is wrong, as bladder cancer can cause many of the same symptoms.
In fact, nearly four in 10 women were initially told they had a UTI before later being diagnosed with bladder cancer, according to Tyla.
“A UTI can cause burning when passing urine, urgency, frequency, lower abdominal discomfort and blood in the urine,” consultant urologist Marc Laniado told Women’s Health. “Bladder cancer can cause many of the same symptoms because the tumour irritates the bladder lining and may bleed.”
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.
Like with most types of cancer, an early diagnosis can make a major difference when it comes to successful treatment. But many women are first treated for a UTI, and Laniado says, “UTIs are very common in women, so it’s understandable that a first episode is treated as an infection.”
Symptoms of bladder cancer
However, if the symptoms keep coming back, don’t improve with antibiotics, or can’t be confirmed through testing, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention.
“A genuine UTI should usually improve quickly with the right antibiotics. If symptoms persist, recur, or the urine test doesn’t actually show infection, we need to think again,” he said.
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which should always be taken seriously. Other symptoms, according to the NHS, include:
- pain, burning, stinging or itching when you pee
- getting lots of urinary tract infections
- needing to pee more often
- needing to pee very suddenly
- losing your appetite and losing weight without trying to
- pain in your back and lower tummy
- aching, pain or tenderness in your bones
- feeling very tired for no reason and feeling generally unwell
“One of the things that surprises patients is that bladder cancer often doesn’t hurt at first. I often say pain is not the symptom to wait for; blood is the symptom to act on,” Laniado said.
While UTIs are extremely common and usually easy to treat, experts say symptoms that don’t go away, keep returning, or aren’t backed up by a positive urine test shouldn’t be ignored, as early detection can have a significant impact if bladder cancer is the underlying cause.
This is not medical advice. If you suspect you’re ill or have concerns about your health, please consult your healthcare provider.
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