Be alert to bladder cancer if you have hematuria

Ms. Li has been feeling deeply guilty about her husband's death, regretting not insisting on having a comprehensive check-up earlier, thus delaying the opportunity for treatment.

At the end of last year, Ms. Li’s 65-year-old husband, Mr. Lin, suddenly developed symptoms of frequent urination, and blood could be seen in his urine with the naked eye. Ms. Li then accompanied her husband to the hospital for diagnosis. The hospital diagnosed it as localized bladder inflammation and prostate hyperplasia, and gave him anti-infection and prostate-related drug treatment. The patient’s condition subsequently improved.

However, the good times did not last long. Less than three months later, Mr. Lin, who had just improved, began to experience symptoms such as blood in the urine, frequent urination, and urgency. After seeing a doctor again, Mr. Lin thought the problem was not serious and refused to have an ultrasound examination. After being treated with ofloxacin and other drugs, the symptoms of frequent urination and urgency disappeared.

After being discharged from the hospital, Mr. Lin lost weight rapidly and had more blood in his urine within 50 days. Ultrasound examination showed patchy infiltration of the lateral wall of the bladder with unclear boundaries. Further cystoscopy and tissue biopsy were performed, and the report showed that he had advanced bladder adenocarcinoma. Although a series of rescue measures were taken, he died one month later due to rapid deterioration of his condition and metastasis to his right lung.

Hematuria is the most common and earliest symptom of bladder cancer. It often presents as intermittent gross hematuria that may subside or stop on its own. It can easily give patients the illusion that they are getting better or cured and delay treatment. When middle-aged and elderly patients experience painless gross hematuria, the first thing to think of is the possibility of a urinary tract tumor.