26 April 2019, Tim Burton -
Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer in the UK with around 10,000 new cases every year. Sadly, around 5,000 people also die for the disease each year.
As with so many cancers, bladder cancer is easier to treat when it is caught early, so here’s your guide to spotting the signs of bladder cancer in yourself and loved ones. This knowledge and fast action could make all the difference.
One of the biggest risk factors with bladder cancer is age, with the vast majority of cases of bladder cancer being in people over the age of 50. So, if you are over 50 then you should be very careful to look out for the signs and symptoms detailed below.
However, if you are or ever have been a smoker, your risk is even higher, so you have all the more reason to be aware of the signs and symptoms below.
We often flush the toilet without thinking about it, but that’s a bad habit to have. Make sure you check the toilet for any signs of blood before your flush.
If you ever see blood in your pee, even if it’s just the once, make sure you go and see your GP right away. It could be nothing, but it can also be a sign of various cancers, including bladder cancer. In fact, it is the most common sign of bladder cancer.
If you are experiencing pain when you’re peeing and you are not sure why, this could also be an indicator of bladder cancer and is most certainly worth getting checked out.
If you’ve noticed that your peeing patterns have changed, this might be an indication of a problem with your health. Like with so many symptoms, it could be nothing, but it’s worth getting it checked out.
The differences you might notice include having to pee far more regularly than before, finding you have a sudden and desperate urge to pee, and finding that you feel the need to pee, but finding that you aren’t able to go.
If you are concerned about any of the above symptoms, please go and see your GP. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
The longer you leave it to see your GP, the longer you risk a potential cancer growing and spreading, which makes it far harder to treat successfully.
If you’d like to arm yourself with more of the facts surrounding bladder cancer, including more information about who is most at risk, you can find out more on our Urology Health pages.
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