SERVING

Those That

SERVED

For veterans engaged in ongoing medical care, such as that provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), bladder cancer can often be found often and early. 

   

During routine exams many veterans report blood in their urine or other urinary symptoms that cause concerns for veterans.  Vietnam veterans are especially hypersensitive to symptoms associated with bladder cancer.
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

Veterans who notice changes in urination, such as:

  • Having to urinate more often than usual
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Dark urine
  • Consistently smelly urine
  • Feeling the need go right away (urgency), even when your bladder isn't full
  • Having trouble urinating or having a weak urine stream
  • Having to get up to urinate many times during the night
  • Being unable to urinate or dribbling
  • Experiencing loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Feeling tired or weak more days than not
  • Swelling in the feet or ankles
  • Pain in abdominal area
  • Lower back pain

   

For veterans who believe they were exposed to Agent Orange it would be prudent to inform your primary care physician.  Your primary care physician will be able to get cancer screenings for you and monitor you for early symptoms of bladder cancer.

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

    

     

      

It is advisable that all veterans who believe they were exposed to Agent Orange register in the VA Agent Orange Registry health exam.  It is a free exam that can alert you to Agent Orange-related health problems. You just need to have served in a location recognized by the VA where the military used Agent Orange.

Bladder Cancer