The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in which urine is stored before expulsion from the body. Urothelial cells within the bladder are the cells in which bladder cancer most commonly begins. Factors that affect the chances of contracting bladder cancer include smoking, gender, age, chemical exposure, and previous cancer treatments.

The following early symptoms of bladder cancer become obvious at an early stage which means that in many cases this cancer can be caught early and treated successfully:

1. Pain or burning during urination
One of the early signs of potential bladder cancer is pain or burning while urinating. As cancer cells grow and form inside the organ the potential for irritation increases and it becomes uncomfortable to urinate. Taken alone, however, this symptom is not a definitive indication of bladder cancer as many other unrelated illnesses can cause similar pain.

2. Urinary frequency
As a potential tumor grows within the bladder space inside the organ decreases. As a result of this, the frequency of urination may noticeably increase. Transversely, if a cancerous growth appears in a particular place it may in fact constrict the flow of urine out of the bladder. This can lead to a lesser need to urinate but also for urine to sit longer in the bladder itself.

3. Trouble urinating or weak urine stream
As tumors grow they can constrict areas of the bladder sometimes blocking the tubes in and out of the organ. The result can often be less urine actually leaving the bladder which decreases volume expelled and of course restricts the normal flow power. As urine in this situation sits in the bladder longer there is an urge to urinate but not enough volume or pressure to allow a full evacuation.

4. Blood in urine
As it progresses, bladder cancer starts to cause damage and bleeding within the organ itself. It is one of the most common early signs with about 85% of newly diagnosed patients having exhibited blood in the urine. Depending on the severity of the bleeding the blood may be very obvious in the urine or merely cause a slight unnoticed darkening. When other symptoms of bladder cancer are present but no blood is visible doctors often check urine with a microscope in order to confirm blood in the urine. Clots of blood are also possible with bladder cancer either during later undiagnosed stages or as a result of treatment for the condition.

5. Low back pain on one side
Lower back pain is not one of the very earliest symptoms of bladder cancer but can often be the last straw in terms of warning that something is wrong. Generally speaking, if urination problems have been detected, and blood is found in the urine alarm bells should be ringing. If lower back pain localized on one side develops with these other symptoms it is important to seek medical advice. Lower back pain is an indication of advanced metastatic cancer.