Five major clinical manifestations of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system. Its main clinical manifestations include hematuria, frequent urination, urgency, difficulty urinating, metastatic symptoms and systemic symptoms.

(1) Hematuria: Almost all bladder cancer patients will experience hematuria, of which painless macroscopic hematuria is the most common symptom. 15% of patients may initially have only microscopic hematuria. Hematuria is usually intermittent throughout the course of the disease, and may also manifest as initial hematuria or terminal hematuria. Some patients may excrete blood clots or necrotic tissue.

(2) Frequent urination and urgency: When the lesion is located in the trigone of the bladder, symptoms often manifest as frequent urination and urgency. If the tumor invades extensively and deeply, pain may occur, which is aggravated by bladder contraction and urine retention.

(3) Difficulty urinating: Large tumors, tumors at the bladder neck, and blood clots can cause low back pain, difficulty urinating, and even urine retention. In severe cases, hydronephrosis and renal impairment may occur.

(4) Metastatic symptoms: When advanced tumors invade the tissues and organs around the bladder or metastasize to the pelvic lymph nodes, they may cause bladder pain, urethro-vaginal fistula, lower limb edema, and other corresponding symptoms. When metastases occur to distant sites, they may also cause impaired function of the metastatic organs and bone pain.

(5) Systemic symptoms: Systemic symptoms of bladder cancer include nausea, loss of appetite, fever, weight loss, anemia, etc. Severe patients in the late stage may suffer from sepsis, uremia, cachexia, etc.