A new study suggests that urinary tract infection symptoms that persist and don’t improve over time or with treatment could indicate bladder cancer. The research was recently presented at the American Urological Association 2015 Annual Meeting. The lead researcher Kyle Richards, MD, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison said the findings apply to both men and women.

Being aware of bladder cancer is especially important among women because bladder cancer is more commonly associated with men. Dr. Richards said, “A lot of primary care doctors who are [initially] seeing these patients [with persistent UTI symptoms] are less aware that bladder cancer is even a possibility in women.” Doctors may not be immediately suspicious of the bladder cancer because bladder cancer and urinary tract infection share a common symptom: hematuria, or blood in the urine. 

Researchers analyzed data from 9,326 men and 2,869 women who were diagnosed with blood in the urine or a urinary tract infection in the year before they were diagnosed with bladder cancer. The researchers found that bladder cancer diagnoses took longer and health outcomes were worse in men and women who have UTIs compared to men with blood in the urine.

The average time from initial symptoms to bladder cancer diagnosis was longer in women than in men. After looking deeper into the data, researchers believe that UTIs are the cause of this. Dr. Richards said ‘the delay in diagnosis in women is understandable because their urologic care is typically given by primary care doctors and Ob/GYNs. Women often don’t see a urologist until much later. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to see one earlier.’

Additionally, both men and women who had a urinary tract infection were more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer that was in a more advanced stage compared to men who had blood in the urine.

So what is the message here? If you have persistent urinary tract infection symptoms, don’t quickly assume that what you have is an infection. UTIs are pretty common and therefore people often assume that if they have UTI symptoms, they have a UTI.  Do not self-diagnose. See your doctor to talk about your symptoms as well as what else those symptoms might mean. Make sure to discuss your risk for bladder cancer.  

Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may include:

• Hematuria, or blood in the urine; urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored is a sign of blood in the urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Strong-smelling urine
• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Women may experience pelvic pain
• Men may experience rectal pain

Bladder cancer symptoms:

• Hematuria, or blood in the urine; urine may appear dark yellow, bright red or cola-colored. May also appear normal, but blood may be detected in a microscopic examination of the urine aka urine culture.
• Frequent urination
• Painful urination
• Back pain
• Pelvic pain