The 3 Early Signs of Bladder Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Watch Out for
Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the two most common types of bladder cancer. The cancer is a malignant tumour or neoplasm that originates within the urothelial lining of the bladder. The interesting thing about this certain type of cancer is that it is also found in smaller percentages of patients who develop urothelial carcinomas or adenocarcinomas. All bladder cancer types are easy to treat, especially when they are diagnosed in the early stages of development. It is advisable to watch out for these early signs of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder and look for treatment on time.
1. Haematuria
This is a condition that describes the presence of blood in the urine. Sometimes, the presence of blood in the urine is accompanied by painful urination and pain in the pelvic region. Haematuria can either present itself as bright red urine or cola red. In some cases, the colour of the urine might not change at all, and the presence of red blood cells will only be detected when the urine is examined microscopically. Other signs related to urination habits include a burning sensation when urinating and feeling the urge to urinate but not being able to pass urine.
2. Back Pain
The second common sign of bladder cancer is pain in the lower back. Sometimes, the pain radiates on one side of the body. Back pain is usually a warning sign that the cancer is progressing and probably metastasising to other parts of the body. At this stage, you might also experience signs like swollen feet and bone pain. Note that these are signs which can be connected to other conditions, and you can only determine the presence of bladder cancer after proper diagnosis.
3. Fatigue
Another common sign that bladder cancer patients experience is excessive tiredness. This happens because fighting cancer exhausts the body. Cancer-related fatigue is different from regular fatigue and can feel paralysing. The fatigue is different because it does not go away with treatment, and sometimes, no matter how much you sleep, you may not feel rested.
The first step in dealing with a suspected case of bladder cancer is to get a diagnosis. Bladder cancer diagnostic tests are performed when the doctor listens to your symptoms and decides that you need to go through a biopsy or other tests. Bladder squamous cell carcinoma is treatable using chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the earlier it is detected, the easier the treatment is.
To learn more, contact your local bladder cancer treatment centre.