become more dangerous and painful.
Diagnosis
Bladder Infection
To determine if you have a bladder infection, your doctor will order a set of tests on your urine, including a urinalysis to test if there is bacteria in your bladder or urinary tract and if your immune system is fighting an infection
If UTIs are a regular occurrence for you, your doctor may also look for underlying issues in the urinary tract through a procedure called a cystoscopy. He or she may also order urodynamic testing, which shows how well urine moves through the different parts of your urinary tract.
Bladder Cancer
In addition to the tests you took to determine if you have a bladder infection, your doctor will perform several other tests, including an internal exam of the vagina or rectum to see if they can feel any lumps in your pelvic area.
You may also have to undergo a set of X-rays called an intravenous pyelogram, which allows your doctor to check the kidneys, ureters and bladder for cancer.
During the cystoscopy exam, your doctor may order a biopsy of the bladder to remove a sample of the inner lining of the bladder in the area they think is cancerous. In some cases, a surgeon may opt to remove the entire tumor.
A pathologist will look at the cells in the biopsy sample for signs of cancer.
Bladder infections and bladder cancer may have some of the same symptoms, but they are ways to get to the bottom of what is going in. It is important to see your healthcare professional so he or she can get you on the right path toward treatment.