Around 10,900 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research figures. This means more than one person is diagnosed every hour, making bladder cancer the 11th most common cancer in the UK.
The disease is often called "silent" because it frequently shows no symptoms until it has advanced. It develops when abnormal tissue growth, a tumour, forms in the bladder lining. Blood in the urine is the most common symptom, but it can also indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Overlapping symptoms with UTIs
Several other warning signs of bladder cancer also overlap with UTI symptoms, including an urgent and persistent urge to visit the toilet and a sharp, persistent pain. More than half of women and 10% of men will experience a UTI at some point.
This overlap makes it easy to dismiss the warning sign of bladder cancer, mistaking the discomfort for an infection while the more serious issue goes undetected.
Survival rates and advanced symptoms
Bladder cancer claims the lives of around half of sufferers, according to charity Action Bladder Cancer UK. However, early detection can be life-saving, with an 80% survival rate when the cancer is caught early enough.
Other symptoms include needing to urinate more frequently, sudden or more urgent urges to use the toilet, and a burning sensation when passing urine. If the cancer reaches an advanced stage and has spread, symptoms may include unintentional weight loss, swelling of the legs, pelvic pain, and bone pain.
When to seek medical help
NHS guidance states that you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have blood in your urine, even if you have no other symptoms, it is the first time it has happened, there is only a small amount of blood, or you are not sure if it is blood. Blood may be bright pink, red, or dark brown.
It is usually not caused by anything serious and could be due to a UTI, kidney stones, or an enlarged prostate, but it is important to get checked out.
