Bladder Cancer (Cont.)

Bladder Cancer (Cont.)

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
Common symptoms include:

* Blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty to deep red)
* Pain during urination
* Frequent urination, or feeling the need to urinate without results
* Lower back pain.

These possible symptoms are not sure signs of bladder cancer. Other health problems can also cause these symptoms. People who have possible signs or symptoms of cancer should see a doctor as soon as possible, because only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem.

(Click Bladder Cancer Symptoms for more information about the symptoms of bladder cancer.)

How Is It Diagnosed?
If a person has possible symptoms of cancer, the doctor will need to perform a physical exam, ask about the patient's personal and family medical history, and recommend additional tests and procedures that examine the bladder. The exams and tests that are used to make a diagnosis may include:

* Urine tests
* Intravenous pyelogram
* Cystoscopy with biopsy.

Staging of Bladder Cancer
If a diagnosis is made, the doctor will need to determine the stage, or extent, of the disease in order to plan the best treatment. Bladder cancer staging is an attempt to find out the size of the tumor, whether the disease has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body.

The bladder cancer stages include:

* Stage 0
* Stage I
* Stage II
* Stage III
* Stage IV
* Recurrent.