A couple has shared their experience of both suffering from lower back pain before being diagnosed with bladder cancer months apart. Phil and Robyn Neven initially attributed their discomfort to common ailments, but tests revealed a more serious condition.
Phil's Diagnosis
Phil, 75, had niggling lower back pain which he thought were kidney stones, as he had experienced them before. After tests showed nothing, he developed a urinary tract infection. Then, one day, he noticed blood in his urine. 'It was painless, but I was thinking holy crap. I absolutely crapped myself and took a sample to the doctors,' Phil said. He was told he had bladder cancer. 'I thought I had a bad back, but it (cancer) was brewing away without me knowing it.'
Robyn's Diagnosis
Shortly after Phil's diagnosis, Robyn began experiencing her own lower back pain. She was also diagnosed with bladder cancer. Phil underwent chemotherapy and had his bladder, prostate, and lymph nodes removed five months ago. Robyn had surgery two weeks ago. Both operations were successful, and Phil now lives with a stoma and bag, which he says is 'better than being dead'.
Bladder Cancer in Australia
Bladder cancer is the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with over 3,300 new cases in 2025, up from about 3,000 in 2021. Men are three times more likely to be diagnosed than women. Despite advances in treatment, the five-year survival rate has dropped from 66% (1987-1991) to 57% (2017-2021). Early detection is crucial because bladder cancer can be aggressive when it invades the muscle layer.
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Symptoms include blood in urine, frequent urination, burning during urination, and pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, or lower back. Risk factors include smoking, older age, exposure to industrial chemicals, family history, and chronic urinary tract infections. Phil admitted to a combined 100 years of smoking between him and his wife.
Associate Professor Weranja Ranasinghe warned that too many Australians dismiss blood in their urine as minor. 'Survival rates drop dramatically once the cancer gets into the layers of the muscles,' he said. 'Early diagnosis is key in treating bladder cancer before it gets into the lining of the muscles.'
Phil feels fortunate to be in Australia, given the high cost of treatment. 'I've got to have 12 immune boosting shots this year and they cost $9,000 each. What other country would look after you like that?'
