Bladder cancer and its declining awareness

Cancers are on a rise in India and bladder cancer is the 9th most common and leading cause of cancer in the country.However in few countries like Europe it is the fifth most common cancer in affecting over 200,000 people in every year.

It is caused by changes to the cells of the bladder and is often linked with exposure to certain chemicals. Smoking, for example, has been identified as the single biggest risk factor for bladder cancer. Common symptoms are usually related to urine and include blood in urine, changes in the colour of urine, pain when urinating, frequent urination and more.

A change in colour of urine or blood in urine is usually the first sign of bladder cancer and should prompt an immediate visit to a doctor or healthcare professional. However, over half (55%) of those surveyed did not know that a change in the colour of their urine could be an early indication of bladder cancer.

An early diagnosis of bladder cancer can significantly improve the treatment outcomes. One of the most common first indications of bladder cancer is the presence of blood in urine. According to the survey 75% of adults are not always checking their urine for a change in colour, with 22% rarely or never checking their urine.

The new survey has also shown that adults are unwilling to seek medical advice, even if they did notice symptoms. 20% of participants said that they would wait one week or longer before speaking to a doctor or healthcare professional if they noticed a change in the colour of their urine from yellow to orange, pink or red. The most common reason for not seeking medical advice was that people expected it to improve by itself.

Reference :

EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF UROLOGY