Every woman has been there before: Your day is going fine—until you take a bathroom break and realise that something is off. Maybe it hurts to go, or you find blood in your urine. Whatever it is, you ignore it only until things seem to get worse.
When you think of these issues, your mind probably jumps to a UTI, period problems, or even menopause—but that’s not always the case. One thing that may not be on your radar at all? Bladder cancer, in which a tumour begins to form after the cells in your bladder start to grow out of control.
It makes sense, bladder cancer is much more common in men than women and most cases affect people over the age of 65—but that doesn’t mean you’re completely in the clear.
“Many people mistakenly think bladder cancer is only a disease of older men,” says oncologist Dr Arjun Balar. “But there are more than 18,000 women who are diagnosed with this cancer every year in the United States.” It is estimated that 750 Australian women will be diagnosed this year.
Because women may not be on the lookout for early symptoms of the disease, they’re actually more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body and becomes harder to treat.
The good news: The earlier you catch the cancer, the better chance you have of beating it. Knowing how to spot the symptoms can help you get diagnosed sooner, which can save your life. Here are the most common ones to look out for—and the number one habit that can bump your risk.
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There is blood in your urine
This is the most common early symptom of bladder cancer, and it’s an easy one for women to overlook - especially because it’s typically painless and you can go weeks or even months between occurrences.
“Many women ignore this symptom because they connect it with menstruation or menopause,” says Dr Balar. “Blood in the urine doesn’t always mean you have bladder cancer, but it’s important to discuss with your doctor.”
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You think you have a UTI
Bladder cancer can often be mistaken for a urinary tract infection, because many of the symptoms overlap.
“Patients may experience increased frequency of urination, urgency to urinate, pain with urination, or urinary incontinence,” says oncologist Dr Susan Constantino.
If you’ve noticed any pee-related problems - you have to go all the time, or you feel like you have to go but can’t, or you have a hard time emptying your bladder - or if antibiotics don’t seem to be helping your UTI symptoms, talk with your doctor.
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You feel pain come out of nowhere
“Pain is often associated with more advanced bladder cancers,” Dr Constantino says. “The pain can be in the flank area, abdomen, or pelvis. Patients can also develop pain in their bones if the cancer has spread to their bones.”
If you’re having aches and pains in those areas, tell your doctor - especially if you’ve also had the aforementioned spotting or UTI symptoms.
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You never feel like eating
Losing your appetite is a common cancer symptom, and bladder cancer is no exception. If the cancer has grown or spread, “you might have weight loss or feel tired and weak,” explains Dr. Balar.
Of course, there are plenty of other things that can mess with your appetite, so don’t automatically assume the worst - but do talk with your doctor about it if it persists.
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The surprising risk factor for bladder cancer
About 50 percent of women diagnosed with bladder cancer are smokers, according to the US National Institutes of Health.
“Smoking is the biggest risk factor for bladder cancer,” Dr Constantino says. If you notice any of the above symptoms and you smoke, let your doctor know ASAP.
Because it’s easy to chalk up the symptoms to a stubborn UTI or normal spotting, “bladder cancer may be overlooked in women, and they are not diagnosed until their cancer has spread and it’s harder to treat,” says Dr Balar.
So if you’re worried, don’t just write off your symptoms. Your doctor can determine if it’s a minor infection or something more serious - and if it is bladder cancer, it’s easier to treat if you catch it early.
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