Courtesy of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

If you see blood in your urine, don’t ignore it. Even if you’re not experiencing pain, it could be a symptom of bladder cancer, says Khurshid Guru, MD, Chair of Urology and Director of Robotic Surgery at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The presence of blood in the urine, also called hematuria, is present in 80-90% of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. “If you have blood in your urine, you should always tell your primary care physician,” says Dr. Guru.

Recognizing problematic symptoms.

You always should report unusual urinary symptoms to your primary health care provider, including:

  • Difficulty with urination: Feeling the need to empty your bladder, but having little or no urine coming out, or the need to strain or bear down while urinating
  • Urgent need to urinate to prevent leakage
  • Frequent and/or painful urination
  • Blood in the urine: Your urine may appear pink, rusty orange or red (with or without blood clots).

“Some of these symptoms can be signs of other issues, such as urinary tract infections, kidney or bladder stones, or other kidney diseases,” says Dr. Guru. “The important thing is not to ignore these symptoms. If people follow this advice, we can save hundreds of lives. There is no approved screening test for bladder cancer, and there is currently no way to tell from symptoms alone if a tumor is benign or malignant.” If blood is detected in your urine, your primary physician will usually refer you to a urologist.

Who’s at Greatest Risk for Bladder Cancer?

  • Smokers. If you smoke, you’re three times more likely than a non-smoker to get bladder cancer. Take advantage of free resources like the New York State Smokers’ Quitline (1-866-NY-QUITS or 866-697-8487), a confidential service that provides stop-smoking services to New Yorkers who want to quit.
  • People who have had work-related exposure to o-Toluidine or aniline, chemical compounds used in the manufacture of rubber, dyes, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.
  • People with a family history of bladder cancer.

How is bladder cancer treated?

The treatment plan for bladder cancer can involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or immunotherapy. Surgery can range from removing just the cancerous areas of the bladder (through cystoscopy), to removing part of the bladder (partial cystectomy), or the entire bladder (radical cystectomy).

At Roswell Park, nearly all radical cystectomies are performed with robot-assisted surgery, which involves smaller incisions, less pain, and a shorter hospital stay than traditional “open” surgery. Roswell Park is an international leader in this procedure.

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. For additional resources, including information on treatment options and guidance for people living with bladder cancer, see roswellpark.org/bladder.