Sponsored Content: Elevating Health
Symptoms Of Female Bladder Cancer You Should Look Out For
The symptoms of female bladder cancer are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. It's important to consult a healthcare professional as soon as you notice unexpected changes to vaginal bleeding or other unusual symptoms.
The American Cancer Society estimates that new cases of bladder cancer will affect around 62,420 men and 19,870 women in 2023.
Because female bladder cancer is less common, it's possible to miss the early signs. This often results in a late diagnosis of bladder cancer when survival is less likely.
According to 2019 research, females with bladder cancer tend to have more aggressive tumors and poorer outcomes than their male counterparts.
As with many types of cancer, an early diagnosis is key to improving your outlook. This can entail knowing which symptoms to look for.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms of bladder cancer and when to see a healthcare professional.
Unlike breast cancer, there's no standard screening test for bladder cancer. For that reason, it's especially important to know the early symptoms of this condition and to bring them to a healthcare professional's attention.
Blood in your urine (hematuria)Blood in your urine (hematuria) is the most common symptom of female bladder cancer. But it can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Hematuria may also result from sexual activity, especially if you have vaginal dryness. If you haven't gone through menopause, you may assume that blood in your urine is because of your period or breakthrough bleeding.
No matter what you think may be causing blood in your urine, don't overlook this symptom.
According to 2016 research, clinicians are more likely to diagnose females with hematuria with a UTI. This means clinicians are less likely to refer females to a urologist or another specialist who can test for bladder cancer.
If you see blood in your urine consistently or often, be sure to take it seriously. Let a healthcare professional know about your concerns and advocate for yourself.
Blood may make your urine look red, pink, or brown. You may also see spots of blood on toilet paper after wiping. However, microscopic amounts of blood may not always be visible.
If you're at higher risk of bladder cancer, talk with a doctor about getting regular urine tests as a failsafe.
Pain or discomfort during urinationPainful urination (dysuria) or trouble urinating can be early symptoms of bladder cancer. You may also have a burning or irritating sensation when you urinate.
As with hematuria, these symptoms are more likely caused by other conditions, including bladder infections.
Urgent or frequent urinationIn addition to unusual sensations during urination, you may find that your urinary habits have changed.
Having to urinate more often can be an early symptom of bladder cancer. Sometimes, the need to go to the bathroom may wake you up several times a night.
You may also feel an urgency to go, even if your bladder isn't full. Difficulty with urination or having a weak urine stream may also occur.
Undiagnosed and untreated bladder cancer may advance, causing additional symptoms. Many of these result from the original tumor getting larger.
As bladder cancer progresses, it penetrates the bladder lining and the surrounding layers of muscle and tissue. If the cancer continues metastasizing (spread), it may cause symptoms in nearby or faraway organs and tissues.
Localized painPain in the pelvis, lower back, or flank can result from a growing tumor that puts pressure on your bladder or nearby internal organs.
If the tumor becomes large enough to block a ureter, you may experience lower back or flank pain on one side. Flanks extend from your upper abdomen to your back along both sides of the body. The ureters connect your kidneys to your bladder.
With this type of pain, you may also have trouble voiding urine.
Pain in other areas of your bodyAdvanced bladder cancer may spread to these areas of the body:
As cancer metastasizes, it may infiltrate bones throughout your body. This can result in bone pain or tenderness at night or during activity. Your bones may also be more susceptible to breakage.
Cancer that has spread to your lungs may cause chest pain. It may also make it hard for you to breathe, cause a chronic cough, or cause your voice to sound different.
Cancer that has spread to your abdomen or liver may cause stomach pain.
Swollen feet (edema)If bladder cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, your lower extremities may become swollen. Your lymph nodes help flush fluids out of the body. If the lymph nodes become swollen, fluids build up and become trapped in tissues.
In addition to swollen feet, cancer in the lymph nodes may sometimes cause night sweats.
Generalized symptomsAs bladder cancer progresses, you may experience overall symptoms that include:
It's important to be proactive if you have early signs and symptoms of this disease. An early diagnosis can greatly improve your outlook.
Because female bladder cancer is less common, a healthcare professional may take a conservative approach. In many instances, bladder cancer symptoms in people with female anatomy do turn out to be other conditions. Still, you may prefer to be cautious.
If you're uncomfortable with the advice you get from a clinician, consider getting a second opinion. This may be especially important if you have risk factors for bladder cancer.
How long can you have bladder cancer and not know?From when cell changes begin to when a tumor starts to cause symptoms, it can take months or years, depending on the cancer and how fast it grows.
However, 84% of cases are diagnosed before cancer has spread beyond the bladder, according to the National Cancer Institute.
What are the five warning signs of bladder cancer?The five primary warning signs or symptoms of bladder cancer are:
The first signs of female bladder cancer are similar to those of male bladder cancer, including blood in the urine and other urinary changes.
However, people who menstruate often ignore blood in their urine because they associate it with menstrual bleeding or postmenopausal spotting.
In addition, other common symptoms of bladder cancer, such as a frequent need to urinate or painful urination, may be misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection.
If symptoms of a bladder infection do not disappear after a course of antibiotics, be sure to return to your doctor for further evaluation.
The most common early symptoms of bladder cancer are blood in your urine and changes to urinary habits. If you experience these with pain or swelling in other parts of your body, it may suggest more advanced cancer.
If you have these or other symptoms, let a healthcare professional know immediately. Bladder cancer is treatable. When caught early, it's often curable.
What Are Common Symptoms Of Colon Cancer?
This article is sponsored content. Interested in advertising with us? Click here.What is a common misperception about colon cancer screening?Much of the patient population, and even some physicians, still think the appropriate age for colon cancer screening with a colonoscopy is age 50. However, about two years ago, the recommendation was lowered to age 45. We were seeing an exponential increase in younger people with colon cancer, and a decline in the older population. The reason for the decline is that older patients were getting their colonoscopies done on time and having pre-cancerous polyps removed.
Besides age, what are the risk factors of colon cancer?Genetics and smoking are the top two risk factors. If you have a family history of cancer or colon cancer, you should talk to your doctor about getting screened before age 45. If you have concerning symptoms and aren't sure about your family history, you can discuss appropriate screenings with your doctor as well.
What are the common symptoms of colon cancer?The most common symptoms we see are bleeding with bowel movements, a change in bowel habits, abdominal pain, or patients who don't think their bowel movements are the same as they have usually been. Colorectal surgeons listen to their patients because they know their bodies best. Colonoscopy remains the most effective way to screen for colon cancer. Do your research and find a board-certified colorectal surgeon for diagnosis, and if surgery is recommended, ask that surgeon how many cases he or she has done and about the outcomes.
How is colon cancer treated?When caught early, colon cancer or rectal cancer can be 100% treated with minimally invasive surgery, such as laparoscopic, or robotic, surgery. The outcomes are patient-specific. The surgeon will go over risk factors, tumor characteristics, and typical outcomes. Most patients are candidates for laparoscopic surgery, and recovery times are faster because the incisions are smaller. Robotic surgery typically has better outcomes than traditional colorectal surgery because the surgeon has better visualization in the narrow space of the pelvis. This technology has helped tremendously by allowing us to obtain larger margins, and patients typically do not need an ostomy. Patients with colon cancer are often treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Some patients may only need surgery, or possibly will need chemotherapy before or after surgery. This is usually based on the tumor location and its size. When colon cancer is treated with surgery and chemotherapy, it is usually very effective and well-tolerated by patients.
What's the latest news in colon and rectal surgery?Along the minimally invasive route, we now offer enhanced recovery for patients who are good candidates. They are usually shocked to learn that appropriate pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative measures can allow a much shorter stay in the hospital—usually a one-night stay for young, healthy patients. Shorter times in the hospital result in a quicker recovery because patients are comfortable at home with families and there is a reduced chance for blood clots, pneumonia, and lately, COVID-19. We are now doing clinical trials for outpatient stays for colorectal surgery.
Dr. Sarah Boostrom is board certified in colon and rectal surgery by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. She is the founder of Colon and Rectal Surgical Consultants of North Texas. She earned her medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, followed by general surgery residency at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. She then completed her fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Dr. Boostrom is the recipient of the Kaare K. Nygaard Excellence in Clinical Research Award as well as the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellow Award. She is an active member of many prestigious surgical societies, has authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and has presented nationally and locally throughout her career. She is experienced in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopy and robotics. She specializes in the treatment of colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel syndromes, diverticulitis, pelvic floor dysfunction, and anorectal disease. Physician is an employee of HealthTexas Provider Network, a member of Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2022 Baylor Scott & White Health.
Signup for D ExclusiveGet partner offers, discounts, and more delivered right to your inbox each week.
What Are The Possible Symptoms Of Thyroid Cancer?
Symptoms of thyroid cancer can include swelling or a lump in the neck, pain, voice changes, and more. However, benign conditions can also cause many of these symptoms.
Lumps in the thyroid area can result from an enlarged thyroid gland, called a goiter. However, if a person has any symptoms of thyroid cancer, they should contact a doctor. The doctor will be able to order tests to confirm the diagnosis, and advise on treatments to help manage symptoms.
In some cases, a person may not have any symptoms of thyroid cancer. Doctors may discover the condition incidentally during a physical examination or when ordering imaging tests for other reasons.
This article looks at some of the common symptoms of thyroid cancer in detail.
A lump or swelling in the neck is a common symptom of thyroid cancer.
A lump from thyroid cancer may:
A thyroid cancer lump is usually painless. However, neck pain can be another sign of thyroid cancer. A person may feel pain in the front of the neck that radiates up to their ears.
It is important to note that, while a neck lump may be due to thyroid cancer, it is more often due to another condition. Other possible causes include goiter, nodular thyroid disease, and subacute thyroiditis.
If a person notices a lump in their deck, it is important to contact a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
As a tumor in the thyroid grows, it may cause hoarseness or other changes to a person's voice.
When a person's voice becomes hoarse, it takes on a lower, raspy pitch and can indicate problems in the vocal cords and throat. It is often a sign of laryngitis, or inflammation in the larynx, the voice box which contains the vocal cords.
However, it can also be a symptom of thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer can affect the nerves that control the movement of the vocal cords, which can change a person's voice.
Doctors typically regard long lasting voice changes as a serious symptom, as it may also indicate problems in a person's airway. It is important to contact a doctor if a person experiences persistent or recurrent changes in their voice.
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, can refer to difficulty swallowing certain foods and liquids. It is a possible symptom of thyroid cancer.
Difficulty swallowing could lead to:
A growing tumor in the thyroid gland may press against the throat, making it difficult for a person to swallow comfortably. A person may also experience pain when swallowing.
However, there are other possible causes of dysphagia, which include:
A tumor in the thyroid may also press against the trachea (windpipe) as it grows and compress a person's airways. This can cause difficulty breathing.
As the esophagus is soft and the trachea has protective cartilaginous rings, airway compression will not happen before dysphagia.
A persistent cough not due to a cold could be a symptom of thyroid cancer.
This is especially true if a person also has other symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in their neck, changes to their voice, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
A person should contact a doctor if they develop a cough unrelated to a known condition, such as asthma, especially if it does not respond to over-the-counter remedies such as cough medication.
Here are answers to some questions people frequently ask about the symptoms of thyroid cancer.
How long can you have thyroid cancer without knowing?A person may have had thyroid cancer for a long time without symptoms. How long a person can have thyroid cancer without noticing it can depend on various factors, including the stage and type of thyroid cancer.
The most common type of thyroid cancer is papillary thyroid cancer, which accounts for 8 out of 10 cases. Papillary thyroid cancer is slow-growing and may develop for some time before a person notices symptoms such as a lump.
Medullary thyroid cancer, which accounts for around 4% of cases of thyroid cancer, often spreads to other areas of the body, such as the lungs and lymph nodes, before doctors diagnose it.
Are thyroid cancer symptoms different in males and females?Symptoms of thyroid cancer may be the same in individuals regardless of sex. The size of thyroid tumors in males may be larger than in females, which could contribute to more severe symptoms.
Doctors diagnose thyroid cancer in females more often than in males. However, males tend to receive a worse prognosis than females.
Is thyroid cancer fully curable?Doctors cure many cases of thyroid cancer. About 9 in 10 people survive for at least 5 years from the time of their diagnosis, with most having a typical lifespan.
However, this can depend on the subtype of thyroid cancer. For example, a rare type called anaplastic thyroid cancer generally has a poor prognosis.
A person should discuss their individual outlook with a doctor.
Learn more about thyroid cancer survival rates.
Symptoms of thyroid cancer may include a lump or swelling in the neck, pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and voice changes. However, thyroid cancer does not always cause symptoms, and doctors may discover it when testing for other conditions.
As symptoms can result from many other benign conditions, such as a cold or infection, a person should contact a doctor if they have any of the symptoms of thyroid cancer. The doctor can order tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions.
Comments
Post a Comment