Blood in Urine? Don't Ignore It
Myth: no pain means no problem. Fact: even one episode of visible blood in the urine needs medical evaluation.
Read the myth: Blood in the urine is usually harmless if there is no pain? →Home / Myth Busters / Bladder cancer
Myth Busters · Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer myths,
answered with evidence.
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ – అపోహలు, నిజాలు
Blood in the urine, even once and even without pain, is the most important early sign of bladder cancer, yet it is often dismissed or treated as an infection. This series answers the myths about causes, symptoms, tests, treatment and life after bladder cancer.
When to see a doctor
Symptoms that need a doctor's check
- Blood in the urine, even once, and even without pain
- Needing to pass urine more often or urgently, without an infection
- Burning when passing urine that keeps coming back
- Pain in the lower back or side, or in the lower tummy
Read more: Blood in the urine is usually harmless if there is no pain?
Sudden or severe symptoms need emergency care: go to the nearest emergency department or call 108.
20 myths · Updated October 2026
Watch
Watch Dr. Haritha explain
Short videos on bladder cancer by Dr. Haritha Chiramana. Every myth is also answered in writing below.
Videos play from YouTube. General education only; they cannot replace an individual consultation.
Causes & risk
Causes and risk
Myth #01 · Causes & risk
Only smokers get bladder cancer?
పొగ తాగేవాళ్లకు మాత్రమే మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుందా?Smoking is a major cause, but bladder cancer also occurs in people who have never smoked. Workplace chemicals and other factors can contribute.
Read the factsMyth #02 · Causes & riskBladder cancer occurs only in men?
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ మగవారికి మాత్రమే వస్తుందా?Bladder cancer is more common in men, but women get it too, and their diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms are put down to urine infections.
Read the factsMyth #03 · Causes & riskBladder cancer affects only elderly people?
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ వయసు మళ్లినవాళ్లకు మాత్రమే వస్తుందా?The risk rises with age, but younger adults can also develop bladder cancer.
Read the factsMyth #04 · Causes & riskDrinking plenty of water completely prevents bladder cancer?
ఎక్కువ నీళ్లు తాగితే మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ పూర్తిగా నివారణ అవుతుందా?Drinking enough water is good for your health, but it doesn't eliminate bladder cancer risk. Evidence for a specific protective effect is inconclusive.
Read the factsMyth #05 · Causes & riskIf I stop smoking, my bladder cancer risk disappears immediately?
పొగ మానేస్తే మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ ప్రమాదం వెంటనే పోతుందా?Quitting lowers your future risk, but former smokers can remain at higher risk for many years.
Read the factsSymptoms & early detection
Symptoms and early detection
Video
Myth #06 · Symptoms & early detectionBlood in the urine is usually harmless if there is no pain?
నొప్పి లేకపోతే మూత్రంలో రక్తం సాధారణంగా ప్రమాదం లేనిదా?Painless blood in the urine is the classic first sign of bladder cancer and needs prompt checking, even though many cases have harmless causes.
Read the factsMyth #07 · Symptoms & early detectionIf the blood in the urine disappears, the problem is cured?
మూత్రంలో రక్తం పోతే సమస్య నయమైనట్లేనా?Blood in the urine often comes and goes. Its disappearance does not rule out bladder cancer or another important problem.
Read the factsMyth #08 · Symptoms & early detectionBurning when passing urine always means a urine infection?
మూత్రం పోసేటప్పుడు మంట అంటే ఎప్పుడూ మూత్ర ఇన్‌ఫెక్షనేనా?Burning is usually caused by infection. But burning that persists or keeps coming back, especially when urine tests show no infection, may need checking for bladder problems.
Read the factsMyth #09 · Symptoms & early detectionA normal urine test rules out bladder cancer?
మూత్ర పరీక్ష నార్మల్ వస్తే మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ లేనట్లేనా?A single normal urine test, or a urine cytology test that shows no cancer cells, cannot reliably rule out bladder cancer.
Read the factsMyth #10 · Symptoms & early detectionA normal ultrasound completely rules out bladder cancer?
అల్ట్రాసౌండ్ నార్మల్ వస్తే మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ పూర్తిగా లేనట్లేనా?Ultrasound can find some bladder tumours, but it can miss small, flat or subtle ones. A cystoscopy remains the key test when it is needed.
Read the factsDiagnosis & treatment
Diagnosis and treatment
Myth #11 · Diagnosis & treatment
A cystoscopy is a major operation that needs a hospital stay?
సిస్టోస్కోపీ ఆసుపత్రిలో ఉండాల్సిన పెద్ద ఆపరేషనా?A diagnostic flexible cystoscopy is usually a quick outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic.
Read the factsMyth #12 · Diagnosis & treatmentA bladder biopsy or TURBT makes cancer spread?
మూత్రాశయ బయాప్సీ లేదా టర్బ్‌టీ వల్ల క్యాన్సర్ వ్యాపిస్తుందా?TURBT (removing a bladder tumour through the urine passage) is a standard procedure for diagnosis and treatment. When properly performed, it does not ordinarily cause cancer to spread.
Read the factsMyth #13 · Diagnosis & treatmentEvery bladder cancer needs removal of the entire bladder?
ప్రతి మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్‌కూ మూత్రాశయం మొత్తం తీసేయాలా?Many bladder cancers that haven't grown into the bladder muscle are treated with TURBT, followed by medicine placed into the bladder and regular check-ups.
Read the factsMyth #14 · Diagnosis & treatmentIf bladder cancer has grown into the muscle, removing the bladder is the only treatment?
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ కండరంలోకి పెరిగితే మూత్రాశయం తీసేయడం ఒక్కటే చికిత్సా?Removing the bladder is a standard option, but some people can keep their bladder with "trimodality therapy": TURBT, radiotherapy and chemotherapy together.
Read the factsMyth #15 · Diagnosis & treatmentChemotherapy for bladder cancer always means injections into a vein?
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్‌కు కీమోథెరపీ అంటే ఎప్పుడూ నరంలోకి ఇంజెక్షన్లేనా?Some early bladder cancers are treated with medicine placed directly into the bladder through a catheter. BCG, often used this way, is a form of immunotherapy, not chemotherapy.
Read the factsRecurrence & quality of life
Advanced disease, recurrence and quality of life
Myth #16 · Recurrence & quality of life
Once a bladder tumour is removed, it can't come back?
మూత్రాశయ గడ్డ తీసేశాక అది మళ్లీ రాదా?Bladder cancer, especially the non-muscle-invasive type, often comes back. Regular cystoscopy checks, tailored to the risk, are essential.
Read the factsMyth #17 · Recurrence & quality of lifeIf bladder cancer spreads beyond the bladder, treatment is useless?
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ మూత్రాశయం దాటి వ్యాపిస్తే చికిత్స వల్ల ఉపయోగం లేదా?Advanced bladder cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, immunotherapy and newer medicines called antibody–drug conjugates.
Read the factsMyth #18 · Recurrence & quality of lifeBladder removal means a person can never live normally again?
మూత్రాశయం తీసేస్తే ఇక ఎప్పటికీ మామూలుగా బతకలేరా?Many people adapt well after bladder removal, with the right type of urinary diversion, rehabilitation and long-term support.
Read the factsMyth #19 · Recurrence & quality of lifeRadiotherapy always destroys bladder function?
రేడియోథెరపీ ఎప్పుడూ మూత్రాశయ పనితీరును నాశనం చేస్తుందా?Modern radiotherapy can preserve a working bladder in suitable patients, although urinary and bowel side effects are possible.
Read the factsMyth #20 · Recurrence & quality of lifeAfter bladder cancer treatment, follow-up tests aren't needed if there are no symptoms?
మూత్రాశయ క్యాన్సర్ చికిత్స తర్వాత లక్షణాలు లేకపోతే తదుపరి పరీక్షలు అవసరం లేదా?Bladder cancer can return or progress without causing symptoms. Follow-up schedules depend on the tumour's risk, its stage and the treatment received.
Read the factsHave a bladder cancer myth you'd like Dr. Haritha to answer? Send it on WhatsApp. Educational information is general and cannot replace an individualised clinical consultation.