What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Recurrent Bladder Cancer?
The signs and symptoms of recurrent bladder cancer are no different from those that indicated bladder cancer initially. The stage and grade of the bladder cancer play a part in the likelihood of cancer recurrence. Even after a tumor in the bladder has been eliminated, either with surgery or with an endoscopic procedure, it is still possible that the remaining bladder lining can become malignant and form new tumors.
Blood in Urine
Hematuria, more commonly referred to as blood in the urine, is one sign and symptom indicative of recurrent bladder cancer. This symptom occurs in the majority of people with bladder cancer. The amount of blood in the urine varies; sometimes the amount is so minute it may go unnoticed by simply looking at the urine with the naked eye. Other times, there can be enough blood in the urine to change the color of the urine to a pale yellow-red or a darker red.
Change in Urination Habits
Recurrent bladder cancer can cause a change in bladder habits. A sense of urgency leading to frequent visits to the bathroom and not being able to urinate or urinating in small amounts each time is a common symptom of recurrent bladder cancer. Another sign is a burning sensation when urinating.
Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is a symptom of recurrent bladder cancer that presents in the latter stages of cancer. Often the pressure of bladder tumors or tumors in the surrounding areas causes pressure and pain in the lower back. Bladder cancer that recurs and metastasizes is more likely to cause lower back pain than recurrent cancer that has not yet spread.
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