Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is usually recognised as a disease that is more prevalent among elderly men,
especially above the age of 55 to 60. The National Institute of Health estimates that approximately
45,000 men as opposed 17,000 women are diagnosed with the disease every year. However,
advanced tumours are more common among women and indicate at a comparatively lower survival
rate at all stages of the disease, according to a report by the National Cancer Institute. Additionally,
bladder cancer among women is on the rise. The disease is usually treatable when diagnosed at an
early stage and the line of treatment is undertaken promptly. Awareness about the symptoms of
the disease is the key to its detection at an early stage. When diagnosed at an advanced stage and
requires a surgery, Dr Amish Dalal, a Surgical Oncologist with over 30 years of experience, is
accomplished at removal of cancerous tumours in the bladder.
The following may be the symptoms of bladder cancer:

Traces of blood in urine The first symptom of the disease may be the presence of blood in
urine, referred as Haematuria in medical terminology. At certain instances, the first
symptoms of bladder cancer can also be similar to bladder infection, which may occur
simultaneously with bladder cancer. The symptoms may include a change of urine colour to
pale yellow-red or, very rarely, dark red. It may also have traces of blood, orange or dark
brown in colour. However, while the blood traces are sometimes visible to the naked eye, at
other times it may be diagnosed only through medical tests. Haematuria may also be the
symptom of an infection, existence of bladder and kidney stones, and benign kidney disease.
Visiting your physician for evaluation is usually the first step towards detecting the cause of
the symptoms. If you are prescribed antibiotics and the symptoms persist thereafter, you
need to revisit the physician immediately for further evaluation as it may indicate at the first
symptoms of bladder cancer. During the course of diagnosis, if the medical tests indicate at
the presence of a malignant tumour, a surgery along with therapies like radio therapy and
chemotherapy may be the cure for the disease. Dr. Amish Dalal is renowned as a surgeon for
the removal of cancerous bladder tumours.
The primary reason why the diagnosis of bladder cancer among women is often delayed as
compared to men is because traces of blood in urine is often associated with menstruation
or menopause, preventing them from reporting the symptom to a gynaecologist. The
symptom can also be misdiagnosed by women as post-menopausal bleeding, urinary tract
infection or cystitis.
Among men, genitourinary malignancy often reaches the advanced stages before it is
detected. Prostate cancer usually poses as an impediment for early detection of bladder
cancer. The risk of testicular cancer, which affects adolescent and young adult males,
reduces with age. After 55 or 60 years of age, when men outgrow the risk of testicular
cancer, the type of cancer that they usually get diagnosed with is prostate cancer, which has
a higher probability of occurrence than bladder cancer. As a result, cancer in the bladder
often gets overlooked as a prospective diagnosis for these symptoms. Once tests detect the
presence of a malignant tumour in the bladder, you may have to approach a surgical

oncologist for the future line of treatment. Dr. Amish Vasant Dalal holds expertise in the
surgical treatment of malignant neoplasm.
Urination problems Frequent urination, pain during urination, inability urinate or
compulsion to urinate urgently even when the bladder is not full may be the symptoms of
cancer in the bladder. However, these are the common signs of an infection or benign
tumour, amongst other less serious conditions. Approaching a physician for diagnosing the
reason of the symptoms, based on the tests that he may have prescribed is usually the next
course of action usually followed. The existence of a tumour in the bladder as indicated
through tests may require a surgery. Doctor Amish Dalal is proficient in removal of tumours
from the bladder.
Lower back pain on one side This may be an advanced symptom for larger bladder cancers.
Cancer in the bladder is segregated into different types, stages and grades.
Other advanced symptoms These may include swelling in the feet, feeling weak and tired
very often, bone pain or loss of appetite and weight loss.

Patients diagnosed with malignant tumours can book an appointment with Amish Dalal at Jaslok
Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital, Bhatia General Hospital, Saifee Hospital or Parsee General Hospital.