Feeling Like You Can’t Hold Your Urine? Could This Be Symptom of Growing Urological Issue? - Dr Vikram Barua Kaushik

Experiencing an urgent need to rush to the restroom, occasional leaks while coughing or sneezing, or the sensation that your bladder isn’t fully empty are all potential indicators that something might be wrong with your urinary tract.

That urgent need to urinate, often prominent at the most inconvenient moment, affects millions worldwide, yet many suffer alone in silence.

Understanding Urinary Warning Signs

Frequent urination or urgency can stem from various conditions. While urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and usually treatable with antibiotic, constant symptoms might indicate other conditions.

For men, especially those over 50, prostate enlargement often causes urinary issues, while women might experience similar symptoms due to weakened pelvic floor muscles, particularly after childbirth or during menopause. Sometimes kidney or bladder stones can cause these symptoms.

Most importantly, when these symptoms persist for weeks, especially if you notice blood in your urine, it’s crucial to get it checked. Blood in urine, whether visible to the naked eye or not, combined with persistent urinary symptoms, could be an early warning sign of bladder cancer. Approximately 60% of bladder cancer patients experience urinary symptoms months before their diagnosis.

India’s Growing Concern

Changing lifestyle plays a major role. Long working hours, increased exposure to environmental pollutants, processed foods and rising tobacco use create perfect conditions for bladder health issue.

NCBI data indicates that bladder cancer accounts for 3.9% of all cancer cases in India, with a higher incidence in industrial areas and among tobacco users. The numbers are concerning, major cities are seeing twice as many cases as they did ten years ago, with younger patients being diagnosed.

The challenge lies in early detection, as many Indians delay seeking medical help due to embarrassment or dismal of early symptoms as routine urinary problems.

When to Seek Medical Help?

When experiencing persistent symptoms like frequent or painful urination, or noticing blood in the urine, whether microscopic, it’s advisable to seek medical attention.

Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and ongoing lower abdominal discomfort are also signs that shouldn’t be ignored. Seeking medical care early can help detect bladder cancer in its early stages, improving treatment outcomes and preventing the condition from worsening.

Treatment and Prevention

When symptoms of bladder cancer persist, doctors typically being by conducting a comprehensive physical examination and a urine analysis to check for abnormalities. If these initial steps suggest a potential issue, they may turn to more advanced diagnostics methods.

One such tool is cystoscopy, a procedure that allows doctors to directly examine the bladder using a thin, flexible tube with a camera. In addition to cystoscopy, imaging studies such as CT scans or ultrasounds are often employed to assess the extent of the cancer. Early-stage cancers often respond well to Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour- TURBT.

Advance cases might require radical cystectomy which is removal of complete bladder, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Modern surgical techniques, like robotic surgery, have improved recovery times and outcomes.

The rising cases of bladder cancer in India serve as a wake-up call. While the statistics might seem daunting, remember that early detection improves the treatment success.

The constant urge to rush to the bathroom might seem like a normal part of daily life, but if it becomes more frequent or is accompanied by pain, blood or discomfort, it’s something that shouldn’t be ignored.