Bladder cancer is perhaps one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States every year and is typically found more often in older men and women, though men are more susceptible to getting it. Bladder cancer starts in the urothelial cells which make up the lining of the bladder. As suggested by the name, bladder cancer is typically found in the bladder, though there can be bladder cancer symptoms that affect other parts of the urinary tract system.

Thankfully, most bladder cancers are very treatable, though they often reoccur several times over. Due to this, it is extremely important to make sure you know the early warning signs of bladder cancer so that you can get it diagnosed and treated quickly. Below are a few of the early-stage symptoms of bladder cancer that you should be aware of:

1. Blood when you urinate

If you go to the bathroom and notice that your urine has bright red blood in it that is either all blood or normal urine with just a little bit of blood in it, it is a sign that you need to get checked out right away. Blood in your urine, also known as hematuria, can be caused by a few other urinary tract issues which is why it is important to get to the doctor quickly so they can do tests and treat the condition.

2. Pain when you urinate

Along the same lines as the first symptom, you should also be aware when it is painful to urinate. While burning or itching when you urinate is more a symptom of a UTI, having severe pain in your bladder or stomach when you urinate is a sign that something more serious could be going on. Any time you feel pain just by going to the bathroom you should go to the doctor as soon as you can.

3. Urinating more frequently than normal

Having bladder cancer will also cause you to have to go to the bathroom frequently. This is different than having to urinate when you are overly hydrated. This is a urination that is so urgent that you have to run and it feels like you have to urinate again as soon as you finish. Feeling like you legitimately cannot stop going or urgently have to go at all times is a huge sign that you may have bladder cancer.

Each one of these symptoms can be brought on or caused by something other than bladder cancer, but all of them at one time typically indicates that you could have bladder cancer. This is why it is vital to get to the doctor as soon as one or more of these symptoms make an appearance. The sooner you get into a doctor and get a diagnosis that you have bladder cancer, the sooner your doctor can treat you and give you a better chance for beating the cancer. It is also important to get the bladder cancer detected early and treated because bladder cancer has a tendency to come back over and over, so there have to be ongoing treatments that cure bladder cancer and keep it at bay for the rest of your life.