Dr Lydia Makaroff PhD

CEO, Fight Bladder Cancer

If you’ve had blood in your urine or an increased need to pee, it could be a sign of cancer. 

It’s probably nothing serious, but finding cancer early makes it more treatable, so just speak to your GP. The NHS has introduced measures to ensure your safety. Most people who are urgently referred are seen by a specialist within two weeks.  

As with most health issues, each person may experience a different set of symptoms. If the problem does turn out to be bladder cancer, early detection is likely to give you a far better outcome. 

Finding cancer early makes it more treatable, so just speak to your GP.

Ruling out other problems 

Many of the symptoms of bladder cancer are the same as those experienced by people with a urinary tract infection (UTI), urinary stones, cystitis or prostate problems. It is important to use several tests to rule out more straightforward conditions before diagnosing someone with bladder cancer. 

A cystoscopy is the most important test for diagnosing bladder cancer. It allows the urologist to look inside your bladder and the images might be shown on a large screen. You may be asked whether you would like to see the screen yourself. Many people find this positive but others would rather not look, so don’t be afraid to tell them that if that’s how you feel. 

Support and information 

If you suspect that you may have cancer you are likely to be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Whatever the outcome, remember that you are not alone.