It is expected that some 63,000 Americans will develop bladder cancer this year. This disease occurs about three times more often in men than women. It is also more common in older people than in younger people. Smokers are also more likely to get bladder cancer. Approximately 13,000 people die of bladder cancer every year.

What are the early warning signs of this deadly disease? Blood in the urine is the most common early warning sign of bladder cancer. When other symptoms such as pain in the mid-section appear it’s a sign that the cancer has spread beyond the bladder. If you have blood in the urine or any other symptoms of bladder cancer, see your doctor immediately. Bladder cancer can be easily treated if it caught early.

Common symptoms of bladder cancer:

• Blood in the urine
• Urgency to urinate
• Frequent urination in small amounts
• Back or abdominal pain
• Painful urination
• Loss of weight and appetite