Microscopic Hematuria and Bladder Cancer

Microscopic hematuria may be a telltale sign of cancer. It’s usually the first warning sign that something is wrong with your urinary tract. The most common form of cancer of the bladder is transitional cell carcinoma. This is a type of bladder cancer that first forms bladder tumors in the lining of the bladder. Because the bladder wall has several layers, bladder transitional cell carcinoma is classified, or staged, into how far the cancer has spread throughout the bladder. Superficial bladder carcinoma is at the early bladder cancer stage and is found in the innermost lining. Invasive bladder cancer, on the other hand, is found beyond the muscular layer of the bladder wall. When cancerous cells are discovered in the bladder, our doctors will also check to see if any bladder tumor has spread, or metastasized, to the kidneys or ureters.

Microscopic hematuria is a cancer symptom of kidney cancer and prostate cancer as well. All the different types of cancers of the urinary system have similar symptoms. Besides hematuria, bladder cancer symptoms may also include frequent urination, burning urination, or painful urination, cloudy urine, or pain in the abdomen. Kidney cancer and prostate cancer also have these symptoms and may even include back pain, nausea, fever, and urinary retention.

There are several tests that our urologists will perform to be able to determine what type of urinary cancer you may have. A cystoscopy is a procedure in which our urologists insert a thin instrument called cystoscope into the urethra and into the bladder to examine the inside of the bladder at close range and extract tissue for a biopsy. Other tests may include a urinalysis and blood test, MRI, CAT scan, and intravenous pyelogram (IVP) which is a type of x-ray used to detect the presence of tumors or cysts.

Treatment for bladder cancer may include bladder cancer surgery. In some cases the cancer can be removed through a transurethral resection of a bladder tumor, or TURBT. Other patients may need a cystectomy to remove the bladder, or parts of it. Bladder cancer treatment may also include BCG, which uses biological substances to fight off the cancer.

Microscopic hematuria may be a symptom of cancer of the kidneys or of the prostate and a urology specialist is the only one qualified to make the diagnosis. Similarly urologic surgeons are the experts for kidney treatment that may include kidney surgery to remove the kidneys (nephrectomy). Urology surgeons also make the determinations on prostate treatment that may include prostate cancer surgery (radical prostatectomy), prostate cryosurgery and prostate radiation surgery. Dr. Fernando Bianco and Dr. Edward Gheiler, at Urology Specialists, are trained in the most modern surgical procedures, including laparoscopy and da vinci surgery that involves the use of robots for more accuracy and precision. If you are experiencing any symptoms of bladder cancer, call our office today. The sooner your condition is treated, the better your bladder cancer prognosis will be.

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