The little-known symptom of killer bladder cancer you might spot when shopping for jeans
THE most common symptoms of bladder cancer revolve around the toilet – problems passing urine and blood in your pee, for example.
But there is a little-known warning sign that can become apparent when shopping for a new pair of jeans.
Swelling of legs can indicate the disease has spread and reached an advanced stage.
It happens because cancer cells stop lymph fluid from draining away, causing a build-up in the limbs, according to Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
This is known as lymphoedema.
So if you notice your legs are looking more inflated than normal, it is worth making an appointment with your GP.
Bladder cancer starts in the lining of the bladder, which filters waste products out of your blood to make urine.
The main symptom of the disease is blood in your pee (haematuria), with 80 per cent of sufferers experiencing it.
It usually looks bright red and won’t necessarily be there all the time.
But there are several other signs to be on the lookout for.
These include:
- Passing urine very often
- Sudden urges to pee
- A burning sensation when passing urine
Once the cancer has spread, you might also notice:
- Pelvic pain
- Bone pain
- Back pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Feeling tired and unwell
While these symptoms could be caused by other conditions, such as cystitis, a kidney infection or an enlarged prostate, you should see a doctor.
Around 10,292 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year in the UK, CRUK says.
There are around 5,600 bladder cancer deaths – that’s about 15 every day.
Treatment options depend on the stage, type and grade of your cancer, but most commonly it involves surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for bladder cancer, because tobacco contains carcinogenic chemicals.
People who smoke may be up to four times more likely to develop the disease than non-smokers, according to CRUK.
But exposure to certain industrial chemicals, like aniline dyes, 2-Naphthylamine and xenylamine, can also hike your chances.
Certain treatments for type 2 diabetes, having a tube in your bladder, repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and long-term bladder stones have also been linked.