Seeing blood in your urine is enough to cause a jolt of fear in just about anyone. And for good reason. Blood in the urine may be the sign of an infection or a serious condition and should never ignored, even if it’s only a small amount or goes away on its own.
In fact, blood in the urine is one of the most common symptoms of urologic cancers. That’s why it’s important to consult your doctor to determine the source of the blood.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- What Causes Blood in Urine?
- Blood in the Urine and Cancer
- Painless Blood in the Urine
- Can Blood in Urine Go Away on its Own?
- Blood Clots in Urine
- What to Do if Blood Is in Your Urine
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-524-4673.
What Causes Blood in Urine?
Clinically known as hematuria, blood in the urine may stem from a number of conditions or circumstances. It occurs when red blood cells from the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra enter the urine stream. It may be classified as gross, or visible, or as microscopic, meaning it’s only detected through a urine test or under a microscope.
Medical conditions and other factors that may cause blood in the urine include:
- An enlarged prostate (known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)
- An infection in the bladder, kidneys, urethra or prostate
- Bladder or kidney stones
- Certain medications, such as blood thinners
- Endometriosis
- Procedures that involve catheterization or surgery on the urinary tract
- Sexual intercourse
- Trauma, such as an injury to the kidneys
- Vigorous physical activity
In addition, eating a large volume of certain foods, like beets and rhubarb, may give urine a temporary pink or red hue. It’s also worth noting that menstrual blood in women may sometimes be mistaken for blood in the urine.
Some of the more serious reasons blood in the urine may occur include:
- Blood-clotting disorders, like hemophilia
- Cancer of the bladder, kidney or prostate
- Inherited disorders, like sickle cell disease
- Kidney disease
Many causes of blood in the urine are treatable, so, you should always call your doctor for an evaluation.
Blood in the Urine and Cancer
Blood in the urine is among the most common symptoms of urologic cancers, says Cory Hugen, M.D., M.S., a urologist at City of Hope® Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center.
The three most common cancers that may have blood in the urine as a symptom include:
Bladder Cancer
Blood in the urine may be the first sign of bladder cancer in most cases. Often, it shows up in the urine as an orange or pink color. The blood may appear one day and go away the next, but if it’s bladder cancer, it will always reappear.
“The No. 1 way bladder cancer is diagnosed is through visible, painless blood in the urine,” says Farshid Sadeghi, M.D., medical director of the Genitourinary Cancer Center at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix.
Kidney Cancer
Blood in the urine is also the most common symptom of kidney cancer. It’s often a rusty or dark red color.
Prostate Cancer
In prostate cancer, blood in the urine tends to appear in cases of advanced disease.
Painless Blood in the Urine
It may sound counterintuitive, but blood in the urine that’s painless may be more concerning than blood in the urine that involves bladder pain.
Blood in the urine doesn’t always — or even usually — mean cancer. But cancer is always a concern with painless, gross hematuria, Dr. Sadeghi says, adding that it may sometimes be misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection (UTI).
“If it’s a UTI, there should be pain, there should be discomfort, there should be changes in urination, not just blood in the urine alone,” he says.
Whether it’s visible or invisible, painless blood in the urine requires an evaluation. That often means imaging tests and a procedure called a cystoscopy that uses a scope and a camera to examine the bladder and the urethra.
Can Blood in Urine Go Away on Its Own?
Even if the blood you see in your urine goes away, you should always call your doctor and have it checked out.
“It’s not uncommon for me to see a patient who comes in and says, ‘A year ago, I had blood in my urine,’” Dr. Hugen says in an episode of the Talking Hope Podcast. “They tell me, ‘It went away, so I thought everything was OK, but then it came back six months later.’”
He adds: “We also see this in women who come in and say that for over a year they were told they had a urinary tract infection and were treated with antibiotics. Finally, they come in and get evaluated and, unfortunately, sometimes we’ll find a cancer.”
Blood Clots in Urine
If there’s enough blood in your urine, a clot may form. Like blood, clots aren’t always a sign of something serious, but they may be. That’s why talking to a doctor is always important, especially if there are numerous blood clots, the clots are large or they’re deep red in color.
Sometimes, blood clots in the urine may develop in response to relatively benign factors like strenuous exercise, certain medications or an enlarged prostate. But they may also develop due to more serious causes, including infections, kidney disease or cancer.
What to Do if Blood is in Your Urine
If you see blood in your urine, don’t ignore it, Dr. Hugen says. Also, remember to be your own advocate and find an experienced doctor or treatment facility, he adds.
“Seek out care where people do this day in and day out, where this is their passion,” Dr. Hugen says, noting that if you don’t find that kind of care, “You’ve got to be the squeaky wheel asking for that second opinion.”
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-524-4673.