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May: Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

View profile for Saira Walji
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Know when something is not right - a change in your bladder habit could be a sign of something serious.

In the United Kingdom, there are around 10,000 new bladder cancer cases diagnosed every year.

Bladder cancer is the 11th most common cancer accounting for 3% of all new cancer cases.

In females, bladder cancer is the 16th most common cancer, with around 2,800 new cases diagnosed every year. In males, bladder cancer is the 8th most common cancer, with around 7,500 new cases being diagnosed every year.

There are around 5,600 bladder cancer deaths in the UK every year.

The key to any cancer treatment is to detect and treat the disease early. Therefore, being aware of the associated symptoms is vital. Symptoms of bladder cancer include:

  • Blood in your urine. The medical name for this is haematuria and it is usually painless. You may notice streaks of blood in your urine or the blood may turn your urine brown. The blood is not always noticeable, and it may be intermittent.
  • A change in your bladder habit i.e. the need to urinate more frequently and experiencing urinary urgency.
  • A burning sensation when passing urine

If bladder cancer reaches an advanced stage, the symptoms can include:

  • Pelvic pain
  • Bone pain
  • Unintentional weight loss

Bladder cancer usually begins in the cells of the bladder lining. In some cases, it may spread into the surrounding bladder muscle. If the cancer penetrates this muscle it can spread to other parts of the body, usually through the lymphatic system. If bladder cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as other organs, it's known as metastatic bladder cancer.

A common issue that we encounter is a “delay in treatment”. Delays can stem from both patients and doctors. However, we regularly find in victims of medical negligence that their symptoms were present for several months before referrals and investigations were carried out. Upon investigation, bladder cancer was diagnosed.

The key to having a better chance of surviving cancer is early detection and treatment of it.

If you believe that you have suffered a delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer, feel free to get in touch with us. Our leading team of experienced solicitors are here to guide you through the claims process and help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to. Call us for a free no obligation discussion on 0121 355 0011.

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