Seeing blood in your urine can be alarming, especially when you don’t know why it’s happening. It may appear once and then disappear, or you may notice other bladder changes, such as needing to urinate more often.
Blood in the urine is one of the most common bladder cancer symptoms, but it isn’t the only one. Knowing what to watch for can help you recognize when it’s time to see a doctor.
Is Blood in the Urine a Bladder Cancer Symptom?
Blood in the urine, called hematuria, is often the first sign of bladder cancer. Your urine may look:
- Pink
- Orange or rust-colored
- Red
- Dark red
Sometimes, there isn’t enough blood to change the color of your urine. Your urine may look normal, but a urine test can find small amounts of blood. This is called microscopic hematuria.
Because bladder tumors can bleed on and off, tell your doctor if you see blood in your urine, even if it only happens once. If you’re menstruating and aren’t sure where the blood is coming from, your doctor can tell you whether you need a urine test after your period.
Does Bladder Cancer Hurt?
Early bladder cancer often causes bleeding with little or no pain. This is different from kidney stones, which often cause severe pain in the side or back.
Don’t assume blood in your urine isn’t serious because you feel fine. Painless bleeding still needs to be checked.
Can Bladder Cancer Cause Frequent Urination?
Bladder cancer can also change your bathroom habits. You may notice:
- Urinating more often than usual
- A sudden or strong urge to urinate
- Burning or pain when you urinate
- Feeling like you need to go when your bladder isn’t full
- Waking up several times at night to urinate
These symptoms can have many causes other than cancer, including urinary tract infections and other bladder problems. If they don’t go away or you don’t know what’s causing them, talk to your doctor.
What Are the Symptoms of Advanced Bladder Cancer?
As bladder cancer grows or spreads beyond the bladder, it may cause other symptoms. These can include:
- Trouble urinating
- Pain in the lower back, sometimes on one side
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the feet
- Bone pain or tenderness
Having one of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have bladder cancer. Your doctor can look for the cause and decide if you need more testing.
How Are Bladder Cancer Symptoms Evaluated?
Your doctor may start with a urine test to check for blood or signs of an infection. If there isn’t a clear cause for your symptoms, you may need more tests.
During a cystoscopy, a urologist uses a thin, lighted scope to look inside your bladder. Imaging tests can also give your doctor a closer look at your kidneys, ureters, bladder and other parts of your urinary tract.
If testing finds bladder cancer, your urologist will determine how deeply it has grown. Bladder cancers are often classified as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer or muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Knowing the type helps your care team choose the right treatment.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Contact your doctor if you see blood in your urine, even once. Don’t wait for it to happen again or assume everything is fine because the bleeding stops.
You should also make an appointment for urinary urgency, frequent urination, burning or other bladder changes that don’t go away or don’t have a clear cause.
Get Bladder Cancer Symptoms Checked in Eugene or Springfield
Blood in the urine doesn’t always mean you have bladder cancer, but it’s important to find out what’s causing it. Bladder cancer can cause few symptoms early on, and bleeding may disappear for a while before coming back.
If you’ve noticed blood in your urine or other possible bladder cancer symptoms, schedule an appointment with Oregon Urology Institute. Our urology team evaluates and treats bladder conditions for patients in Eugene, Springfield, and surrounding communities. Call 541.334.3350 to make an appointment.