Blood in your wee is the most common symptom of bladder cancer, having blood in your wee doesn't necessarily mean you have bladder cancer, but you should always visit your GP as an early diagnosis could lead to better outcomes.
Bladder cancer is where abnormal tissue growth, known as a tumour, develops in the bladder lining. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the bladder muscle.
It’s currently the 11th most common cancer in the UK and across the North West, rates are 13% higher than the English average.
The most common symptom is spotting blood in your wee. This can look like streaks of blood, or the blood may turn your wee brown.
You may only spot it occasionally and it may come and go. However, if you ever have blood in your wee, you should visit your GP.
Other symptoms to look out for, include:
pain, burning, stinging or itching when you pee
getting lots of urinary tract infections
needing to pee more often
needing to pee very suddenly
losing your appetite and losing weight without trying to
pain in your back and lower tummy
aching, pain or tenderness in your bones
feeling very tired for no reason and feeling generally unwell
Bladder cancer can often be treated if it’s spotted early but you may be more likely to get it if:
you're over the age of 60
you're a man
you smoke or use chewing tobacco
you've had a urinary catheter in for a long time
you've had radiotherapy for cancer before
you're overweight
a close relative has had bladder cancer
you have certain conditions, such as diabetes
you've worked with chemicals, such as those used in the textile industry, or handling carbon or crude oil
you've had an infection called schistosomiasis (bilharzia)
If you have any concerns about the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer, please visit your GP. It’s probably nothing, but it’s best to get it checked.
