[BLA-10] Bladder Cancer Iceberg

What people see

Frequent urination

Hematuria (blood in the urine)

Back pain

Painful urination

Fatigue

What people don’t see

Appetite loss and weight loss

Needing to urinate urgently

Having trouble emptying your bladder

Appetite loss and weight loss

Loss of appetite and weight loss can be symptoms of advanced bladder cancer. These symptoms can also be side effects of bladder cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

Fatigue

Fatigue — feeling tired even after a good night’s rest — and feeling weak can be symptoms of bladder cancer. These symptoms are more common in advanced bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. They can also be side effects of bladder cancer treatments.

Back pain

Back pain, particularly in the lower back and on one side, can be a symptom of more advanced bladder cancer. It can also be a symptom of other medical conditions.

Needing to urinate urgently

Feeling like you need to urinate immediately, even if your bladder isn’t full, can be a symptom of bladder cancer.

Hematuria (blood in the urine)

Blood in the urine is a common early sign of bladder cancer. It might change the color of your urine or occur in smaller amounts and not be noticeable. This symptom may come and go and not happen every day.

Having trouble emptying your bladder

Bladder cancer may make it difficult to urinate, difficult to empty your bladder, or cause a weak urine stream. These changes can also be signs of other conditions.

Frequent urination

Someone who spends a lot of time with you might notice if you frequently need to use the bathroom. Frequent urination and changes in your bladder habits are symptoms of bladder cancer, but they can also be signs of other conditions. Frequent urination may come with other symptoms that affect urination.

Painful urination

Bladder cancer can cause pain and other sensations like burning during urination. This can also be a sign of other conditions like an infection.