According to the American Cancer Society, bladder cancer claims the lives of approximately 15,000 people each year. With men much more likely to be affected by this type of cancer than women, the number of diagnoses annually reaches nearly 75,000.

While these numbers may seem alarming to some, the good news is that bladder cancer, when diagnosed and treated in its early stages, often can be cured. In order to have the best chance to survive bladder cancer and continue to live a full and happy life, it is essential that the patient reports any symptoms associated with the condition early to allow the medical team the best opportunity to effect successful treatment.

If you have any symptoms listed in this article or any other concerning signs that you may need medical intervention, speak to your doctor immediately. Your doctor can perform an examination, order any appropriate tests and refer you to a urologist if necessary. The more quickly all of these things happen, the higher the likelihood of a successful outcome.

10 Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

There has been little success in understanding the causes of bladder cancer, but there are some environmental or lifestyle risk factors that have been linked to bladder cancer diagnoses. For example, men are almost four times more likely to be affected by bladder cancer than women, and cancer is much more frequently diagnosed in patients who are older than 55. Smoking is believed to increase the chance of bladder cancer, as are some chemicals used in industrial and service capacities.

The following list of symptoms of bladder cancer is intended as a guide for you to monitor your health and to know when to speak to your doctor about your concerns.