What are the symptoms of cancer of the bladder

The most common symptom of cancer of the bladder is blood in the urine (known as haematuria). This usually occurs suddenly and is generally not painful. The blood may be there one day and disappear the next, but eventually it does come back. Sometimes blood clots can form, and these may cause painful muscle spasms in the bladder. The amount of blood is not related to the extent of the cancer.

Some people may have a burning feeling when they pass urine, and need to pass urine often. However, these are also symptoms of bladder irritation and will usually be due to an infection rather than cancer. If the symptoms continue and do not get better with antibiotics, further tests may be necessary.

If you see any blood in your urine, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible, although this symptom is more likely to be due to conditions other than cancer, e.g. infection or stones in the kidney or bladder.