Bladder Cancer Symptoms in Women
Though bladder cancer most frequently occurs in men, women can also develop symptoms of this form of cancer 34. Unfortunately, women frequently ignore or dismiss bladder cancer symptoms assuming they are caused by a less serious medical issue, such as a urinary tract infection 3. As a result, bladder cancer symptoms in women are often not recognized until the cancer progresses to a more advanced stage, warn health professionals with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network 3.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Frequent Urination
The bladder is a small sac that holds and stores urine until it is excreted out of the body through the urethra. The majority of bladder cancers occur when irregular, cancerous cells begin to grow along the internal lining of the bladder. Cancerous cell growth in the bladder can inflame and irritate this organ, leading to increased urinary sensations. As a result, women with bladder cancer can experience frequent urges to urinate, explains the BBC News Service 3. Affected women can also notice that they are unable to produce urine, despite an urgent need to urinate. These bladder cancer symptoms in women can be irritating and uncomfortable and can become worse if appropriate treatment is not received 13.
- The bladder is a small sac that holds and stores urine until it is excreted out of the body through the urethra.
Painful Urination
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Inflammation of the bladder can result in painful urination in women with bladder cancer, report medical experts with the MD Anderson Cancer Center 13. Affected women can develop a burning sensation when passing urine. Sensations of pain during urination can also be signs of alternate medical problems, such as a sexually transmitted infection. Women who experience pain during urination should consult a physician for further treatment and care.
- Inflammation of the bladder can result in painful urination in women with bladder cancer, report medical experts with the MD Anderson Cancer Center 1.
- Sensations of pain during urination can also be signs of alternate medical problems, such as a sexually transmitted infection.
Hematuria
Cancerous cell growth within the bladder can damage the lining of this organ. When this occurs, red blood cells from the interior bladder wall can accumulate within stored urine. As a result, women with bladder cancer can excrete small amounts of blood within their urine--a symptom called hematuria, according to health professionals with the University of Tennessee Medical Center 234. Blood in the urine can cause the urine to appear unusually dark, red or rusty in color. Women who notice blood within their urine should not ignore this bladder cancer symptom 3.
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References
- MD Anderson Cancer Center: Bladder Cancer and Bladder Cancer Treatment - Bladder Cancer Symptoms
- University of Tennessee Medical Center: Urologic Cancers
- Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network: Women and Bladder Cancer
- University of California Los Angeles: Bladder Cancer - Symptoms
- Sharma S, Ksheersagar P, Sharma P. Diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. Am Fam Physician. 2009;80(7):717-23.
- Elias K, Svatek RS, Gupta S, Ho R, Lotan Y. High-risk patients with hematuria are not evaluated according to guideline recommendations. Cancer. 2010;116(12):2954-9. doi:10.1002/cncr.25048
- American Cancer Society. Bladder Cancer Signs and Symptoms. Updated January 30, 2019.
- National Cancer Institute. Bladder and Other Urothelial Cancers Screening (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. Updated February 22, 2019.
- American Cancer Society. Bladder Cancer Stages. Updated January 30, 2019.
- American Cancer Society. Can Bladder Cancer Be Found Early?. Updated January 30, 2019
- Lotan, Y. (November 2016). Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Staging of Bladder Cancer. UpToDate, Lerner SP (Ed), Waltham, MA.
Writer Bio
Rae Uddin has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 2004. She specializes in scientific journalism and medical and technical writing. Her work has appeared in various online publications. Uddin earned her Master of Science in integrated biomedical sciences with an emphasis in molecular and cellular biochemistry from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.