Professor Kevin Fenton
A new National Health Service (NHS) Be Clear on Cancer campaign has been launched in the United Kingdom, to drive awareness of blood in urine as a key symptom of bladder and kidney cancers, and encourage people to visit their doctor if they spot the symptom, even just the once.
One of the reasons people do not receive an early diagnosis is believed to be the public’s lack of awareness of the key symptoms. Blood in urine – even if it appears just the once – could be a symptom of both bladder and kidney cancer. However, new figures show that the public don’t recognise the seriousness of the sign – almost a third (30 per cent) of people would wait and see if they spotted blood in their urine again before taking any action, which could delay their diagnosis.
It is also believed that within African and Caribbean communities there are cultural and religious reasons that can prevent people from seeing their doctor early. There is often a strong fear of cancer, a perception that cancer is an incurable disease that quickly leads to death. There can also be a tendency to self-diagnose and treat symptoms with herbal remedies. But finding it early makes it more treatable so if your notice blood in your urine tell your doctor straight away.
It is believed that receiving an early diagnosis increases the chance of survival for the 16,600 people who are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer every year in England.
Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England said: “Early diagnosis and treatment of bladder and kidney cancer can save lives. We need to overcome the barriers preventing people presenting early to their doctors so that we can save more lives across all communities.”
“Our message is clear – as soon as you spot blood in your urine, visit the doctor. It’s probably nothing serious but it could also be a sign of something else that needs treatment, so don’t ignore the symptoms or put off a trip to the doctor.”
Visible blood in urine is a key symptom in around eight in ten bladder cancers and over half of kidney cancers. However, when the public was asked to name cancer signs and symptoms, only a third (33 per cent) of people mention unexplained bleeding.
Dr Frank Chinegwundoh, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust said: "As a Consultant Urological Surgeon, I see several patients each week who have passed blood in their urine. They are alarmed at what is something out of the ordinary. We run certain straightforward tests quickly and can often provide reassurance that nothing serious is wrong. However, where bladder or kidney cancer is found, it is a relief to all concerned to be able to say this has been caught early and so the outlook is very good.”
“Even if just the once, blood in the urine needs an urgent visit to the doctor.”
Blood in your urine is the most common symptom for both types of cancer. Other bladder cancer symptoms include needing to urinate very often or very suddenly and/or pain while urinating. Other kidney cancer symptoms include a pain below the ribs that doesn’t go away or a lump in your stomach.
The Be Clear on Cancer campaign is part of the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, run by the Government in partnership with Cancer Research UK, to improve England’s cancer survival rates.
The Government’s priorities for cancer as set out in Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer (January 2011) includes the ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives per year by 2014/15.
Further information on the campaign is available at: nhs.uk/bloodinpee.