Familiarise yourself with bladder cancer symptoms this May

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, and the NHS in Lancashire and South Cumbria is urging people to be aware of the signs and symptoms, and highlighting the vital importance of early diagnosis.

Dr Michelle Martin, a GP and one of the cancer clinical leads in Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “As with any cancer, if bladder cancer is detected early, there is a greater chance that it can be treated, so being aware of the signs can be crucial. In particular, we want people to know that they should speak to their GP if they ever see blood in their pee.

“We see around 300 new cases of bladder cancer in our region each year, so we want to use the opportunity of Bladder Cancer Awareness Month to tell people about the symptoms and urge them to act quickly if they notice any signs.”

Blood in your pee is the most common symptom of bladder cancer - around 80 per cent of people with bladder cancer have some blood in their pee as a symptom. It may happen just once or come and go. It may be bright red or darker red, and it can be just a small amount.

Other key symptoms include:

• pain, burning, stinging or itching when you pee
• getting lots of urinary tract infections
• changes in your peeing habits (peeing more often or needing to pee suddenly)
• losing your appetite and losing weight without trying to
• pain in your bones, back, or lower tummy
• feeling very tired for no reason and feeling generally unwell

Having any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have bladder cancer, they can also be associated with other health conditions, but it is important to book an appointment with your GP if you notice any of these changes.

It’s also important to remember that sometimes cancers of all types do not present with the ‘usual’ signs and symptoms. If you notice any persistent or unexpected changes in your body that are not right for you, it is always best to talk to your GP and get them checked out.

Dr Martin continued: “We don’t always know what causes bladder cancer, but we do know that smoking significantly increases risk so it’s really important for smokers to pay attention to the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer, especially blood in your pee.

“If you smoke, stopping completely is the best thing you can do for your health. We understand that quitting can be hard, but there’s support on hand to help.”

Around half of all bladder cancers are caused by smoking.  The risk of getting bladder cancer for people who smoke is up to four times that of someone who has never smoked.

Smokers are urged to speak to their doctor or pharmacist, the free local stop smoking service, or visit the NHS Smokefree webpages to get support and advice on how to stop smoking for good.

For more information about bladder cancer, please visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/bladder-cancer