If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you might worry about whether the way your body feels is related to the disease. Symptoms of bladder cancer can vary depending on how far along your cancer is and whether you have any other health conditions. If you are receiving treatment, it may also be difficult to tell if what you are feeling is caused by your cancer or if it is a side effect of treatment.

In addition to learning more about what bladder cancer symptoms can look and feel like by reading articles such as this one, it’s a good idea to consult a professional. Speaking to your doctor is the best way to identify the cause of what you’re seeing and feeling and to find effective ways to manage your symptoms and side effects.

Bladder Cancer Symptoms Are Variable

The stages of bladder cancer each cause different symptoms. Bladder cancer occurs when cancer cells inside your bladder grow uncontrollably, often forming a tumor in the bladder wall or outer lining. At this first stage, symptoms of bladder cancer can be painless, and you may only notice it in the appearance of your urine and your urination habits. As bladder cancer progresses, it can penetrate deeper into the bladder’s walls and become large enough to push on nearby body parts, causing you pain. At its latest stages, bladder cancer can spread to other parts of the body, causing severe pain and other symptoms.

Early Bladder Cancer Symptoms You Can See

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, also called hematuria. This is most commonly a symptom of early bladder cancer, and it is often painless. The amount of blood that appears in your urine could be large or small, causing the urine to change in color. It is most likely to appear orange, pink, red, or dark brown. Sometimes, the blood in your urine will appear for a short time and then go away.

Hematuria can have many other causes, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder stones, or kidney stones. Not all of these potential causes are life-threatening, but it’s important not to ignore blood in your urine because it can be a sign of something serious. It is also important to note that hematuria can appear as tea-colored urine – not as frank (bright red) blood. Having tea-colored or dark brown urine can also indicate the presence of blood in the urine, and this can be a symptom of an underlying kidney or bladder disease. Having microscopic hematuria on a urine test, meaning normal-looking urine that has red blood cells when examined under a microscope, can also indicate kidney or bladder disease.

Bladder cancer is often treatable when it’s diagnosed early, so it’s important to be aware of possible symptoms and report them to your doctor right away. Because some symptoms of early bladder cancer can easily be mistaken for more minor health issues, some people with bladder cancer wait longer than they should to consult a doctor.

According to Oncogenesis, bladder cancer is more common in men than women, but women are more likely to have more advanced bladder cancer and less likely to survive. This may be because many women ignore or misdiagnose this symptom, often believing it is related to menstruation, menopause, or a UTI. Ignoring this symptom can lead to a delay in your diagnosis of bladder cancer and negative health outcomes. Blood in the urine is never normal, no matter how visible or microscopic it may be. If you experience this symptom, speak to a healthcare provider right away.

Advanced Bladder Cancer Symptoms You Can See

Early on, blood in the urine is often the only visible symptom of bladder cancer, and it might be the only symptom that is noticeable at all. As bladder cancer progresses, it may mean you have a tumor that has grown larger or that cancer has spread to other parts of your body. These late-stage types of bladder cancer can cause other visible symptoms, including:

• Swollen feet
• Swollen abdomen
• Jaundice (yellowing of your skin and eyes)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Mass in the abdomen

Bladder Cancer Symptoms You Can Feel

Many noticeable symptoms of bladder cancer are things you can feel, rather than see. It’s important to speak to your doctor about any changes in your health. Many people who experience bladder cancer symptoms may wait to see a doctor because they assume their symptoms are related to other, more common conditions such as enlarged prostate, menopause, or aging-related changes to urinary habits. According to the American Cancer Society, bladder cancer is more common among men than women, and among adults over the age of 55. The average age of diagnosis is 73.

Feeling the Effects of Early Bladder Cancer

The most common physical symptoms of early bladder cancer are changes to bladder and urination habits and uncomfortable urination. You might experience:

• Frequent urination
• Urgent need to urinate, even if you’ve gone recently
• Inability to urinate despite feeling that you need to
• Multiple urges to use the bathroom at night
• Difficulty urinating or a weak urine stream

Feeling the Effects of Advanced Bladder Cancer

If your bladder cancer has metastasized (grown large or spread to other parts of your body), you might experience a range of additional physical symptoms. When bladder cancer spreads, it usually begins by spreading to areas around your bladder, including the prostate, uterus, or lymph nodes in your pelvis and abdomen. Later on, it’s most likely to spread to your lungs, liver, or bones. Physical symptoms of advanced and metastatic bladder cancer include:

• Fatigue — Abnormal tiredness
• Pain — Including lower back pain, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, and bone pain
• Loss of appetite — A lack of desire to eat
• Lung symptoms — Such as a persistent cough or shortness of breath

Mental Health for People With Bladder Cancer

Many people who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer report feeling anxious or depressed. Bladder cancer can cause a range of stressful and worrying effects, including financial hardship, sexual health issues, and incontinence. People with bladder cancer may become stressed about the need to quit smoking, or they may worry about the risk of their cancer recurring after treatment. All of these thoughts and feelings are normal, and support is available. Doctors recommend speaking with a therapist, talking to loved ones about your diagnosis, connecting with others who can relate, and finding ways to take control of your daily life, either through exercise or a hobby you enjoy.

Side Effects of Bladder Cancer Treatment

Treatment options for bladder cancer can cause side effects that you may confuse with symptoms of cancer. Below, we will discuss a few common forms of treatment for bladder cancer and their side effects.

Intravesical Therapy

Intravesical therapy is for very early-stage bladder cancer that has not penetrated the bladder wall or spread to other parts of the body. This is known as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and it may not require open surgery. In this case, your doctors can administer medicine through a tube directly to your bladder, rather than through your blood or entire body. Side effects of intravesical therapy can include blood in the urine, frequent urination, burning during urination, and flu-like symptoms.

Surgery

Surgery can be performed to remove a bladder cancer tumor or your entire bladder (known as a cystectomy). Side effects from surgery can include urinary incontinence, frequent or urgent urination, blood in the urine, and sexual dysfunction. Bleeding and infection can also occur if you are at risk of these complications.

Radiation Therapy

If radiation is part of your treatment, side effects might include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, burning or pain when you urinate, blood in your urine, or diarrhea.

Chemotherapy

Side effects of chemotherapy can vary depending on the type of chemo you receive and whether you are getting radiation at the same time. Side effects can include nausea, fatigue, hair loss, digestive issues, loss of appetite, and bruising or bleeding easily.

Immunotherapy

The side effects of immunotherapy depend on the type of immunotherapy and body parts or organs that are affected. The side effects can affect any body part or organ. For example, immunotherapy can commonly affect the digestive system and cause diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. It can also affect the skin and cause rashes or itching, or it can affect the joints and cause pain and difficulty moving.

Ask for Help

If you notice any new or worsening symptoms or any side effects that are affecting your quality of life, it’s important to speak to your oncologist and cancer care team. Your care team can help you find ways to manage and improve your symptoms and side effects. Your quality of life is important at any stage of bladder cancer.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyBladderCancerTeam is the social network for people with bladder cancer and their loved ones. On MyBladderCancerTeam, people come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with bladder cancer.

Are you living with bladder cancer? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.