5 Bladder Cancer Symptoms a Doctor Says Women Over 50 Should Never Ignore
Frequent UTIs can be a sneaky warning sign that's often overlooked
Nearly 20,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society, with most being over age 55. And the unfortunate reality is that women are often diagnosed at later stages than men, when the cancer can be harder to treat. But there’s good news to report: Knowing what bladder cancer symptoms to watch for can improve early detection rates and help you stay healthy. Here, a doctor explains the early warning signs to watch for and how to reduce your cancer risk.
What is bladder cancer?
“[Bladder cancer] forms when cells in the urinary bladder grow abnormally and uncontrollably to form a tumor,” says Ruchika Talwar, MD, MMHC, a urologic oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “The bladder is a balloon-like organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine until it leaves the body. Most bladder cancers (over 90 percent) develop in the cells that line the inside of the bladder, called urothelial or transitional cells.”
What causes bladder cancer?
“Bladder cancer develops when cells are damaged by exposure to harmful substances called carcinogens or in the case of certain rare genetic disorders,” says Dr. Talwar. “The most common risk factor is cigarette smoking.” (Check out our best quit-smoking tips.)
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But smoking is not the only risk factor. Dr. Talwar says there are other causes of bladder cancer, including:
- Workplace chemical exposure (such as factory chemicals and dyes)
- Prior pelvic radiation treatment
- Chronic bladder infections
- Chemotherapy drugs like cyclophosphamide
“The damage from these exposures accumulates over time, which is why bladder cancer typically develops in older adults,” adds Dr. Talwar.
5 bladder cancer symptoms you need to know
Some symptoms of bladder cancer are more obvious, while others can be easy to dismiss. You’ll want to be on the lookout for these bladder cancer signs:
Blood in the urine
“This is the most common symptom, occurring in up to 85 percent of bladder cancer patients,” adds Dr. Talwar. She notes that bladder tumors can bleed, which may lead to large or small amounts of blood in the urine.
Frequent urination
“People may feel the need to urinate more often than usual, sometimes many times throughout the day and night,” says Dr. Talwar. “Tumors take up space in the bladder, reducing its capacity to hold urine. They can also irritate the bladder lining, triggering the urge to urinate even when the bladder isn’t full.” (Learn more about why you may be peeing so much all of a sudden.)
Painful urination
“Burning pain or urgency during urination is a common [bladder cancer] symptom because the tumor irritates the sensitive bladder lining, and passing urine over the inflamed or damaged tissue causes discomfort,” says Dr. Talwar.
Frequent UTIs
“Repeated bladder infections, especially in women, can actually be bladder cancer,” says Dr. Talwar. “Tumors create areas where bacteria can hide and multiply, leading to frequent infections. The tumor itself causes inflammation that mimics infection symptoms. Unfortunately, doctors may treat the ‘infection’ repeatedly without investigating further, delaying cancer diagnosis.”
Microscopic blood in urine
“Blood detected only through urine tests, not visible to the naked eye, is easy to dismiss,” says Dr. Talwar. “Small tumors may bleed in tiny amounts that don’t change urine color. A small percentage of people with microscopic blood in their urine have bladder cancer. This symptom is often attributed to other causes like kidney stones or exercise.”
Bladder cancer treatment options
“Treatment depends on whether the cancer has invaded the bladder muscle or spread beyond the bladder,” says Dr. Talwar. “For non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (about 75 percent of cases), doctors perform a procedure called transurethral resection (TURBT), where they remove the tumor through the urethra using a special scope.”
“For muscle-invasive bladder cancer, the standard treatment is surgical removal of the bladder (radical cystectomy) combined with chemotherapy given before surgery,” adds Dr. Talwar. Some patients who want to preserve their bladder may opt for a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy rather than total removal.
How to reduce your bladder cancer risk
The two biggest steps you can take toward preventing bladder cancer:
Quit smoking
Dr. Talwar says quitting smoking is the most important lifestyle change you can make, noting that smoking accounts for about 50 percent of bladder cancer cases. “Cigarette smoke contains aromatic amines and other carcinogens that concentrate in urine and directly damage bladder cells,” says Dr. Talwar. “After quitting for four years, bladder cancer risk can decrease by up to 40 percent.”
Dr. Talwar adds that while quitting smoking can be hard, several evidence-based methods can help, including:
- Nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum and lozenges)
- Prescription medications (varenicline or bupropion)
- Counseling (you can find resources using the National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, Alcohol Issues website)
- Apps designed to help people quit smoking (try the quitSTART app)
- Support groups (consider a Facebook support group)
Eat more fruit and veggies
Dr. Talwar recommends aiming for five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. She specifically recommends consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and cauliflower at least three to four times per week.
“Research shows that higher vegetable intake reduces bladder cancer risk, with cruciferous vegetables providing the highest risk reduction,” says Dr. Talwar. “These vegetables contain compounds that help the body detoxify carcinogens and protect cells from damage.”
The bottom line on bladder cancer
With so many Americans navigating a cancer diagnosis each day, it can feel like there is not much you can do. But by staying informed about early-stage bladder cancer symptoms to watch for and making lifestyle changes that can lower your risk, you’re protecting your health one day at a time.
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