Q&A: 10 cancer-related misconceptions

Q: Are there always obvious symptoms in the cancers of urinary system?

A: Cancers in different parts of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate (in men) and other tissues, may show a variety of symptoms that are not always readily apparent. Symptoms may vary greatly depending on the type and stage of cancer. For example, kidney cancer may have no obvious symptoms in the early stage, whereas painless hematuria is the most common symptom of bladder cancer, for which some patients may overlook seeking timely treatment as they mistakenly regarded their symptoms as a common urinary system inflammation. Kidney cancer and prostate cancer are usually asymptomatic in the early stage. More than half of the patients with symptoms are already in late metastasis or even in late stage, making it challenging to detect and diagnose these cancers in a timely manner.