Around 20,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year - equivalent to 56 every day - making it one of the 10 most common cancers.
The deadly disease occurs when a growth of abnormal tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the bladder lining. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the bladder muscle, explains the NHS.
Those who catch the disease early can see an 80 percent survival rate, but Action Bladder Cancer UK have warned that 25 percent of all cases are diagnosed at a later stage, particularly in women.
Bladder cancer doesn’t always trigger many symptoms, meaning the disease can often slip under the radar or be mistaken for something else.
According to the NHS, finding blood in your urine is a major sign that you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Also known as haematuria, the symptom occurs in 85 percent of cases and can take many forms. Sometimes pinkish, bright red, brownish, or just lightly streaked with blood, having any blood in your urine can be an indicator of issues with your bladder.
The warning sign is usually painless and can be identified when you check the toilet bowl after you wee.
The health service explains: “You may notice streaks of blood in your urine or the blood may turn your urine brown.
“The blood isn't always noticeable and it may come and go.”
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A study, published in the journal Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, highlighted that bloody pee is a common symptom to watch out for.
Researchers explained that haematuria is triggered by a direct haemorrhage of the tumour, which describes bleeding. They found that this warning sign is seen in approximately 85 percent of patients with the disease.
The scientists added that haematuria does not necessarily mean that you have bladder cancer, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other health issues.
"These symptoms are more likely to be caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, an overactive bladder, or an enlarged prostate (in men). Still, it’s important to have them checked by a doctor so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed,” added The American Cancer Society.
While blood in your urine is one of the main symptoms of bladder cancer, there are other warning signs to watch out for, including:
A need to urinate on a more frequent basis
Sudden urges to urinate
A burning sensation when passing urine.
Pain in your lower abdomen, sometimes in your stomach or back
Feeling tired and unwell
Loss of appetite
Bone pain
However, these symptoms are considered to be less common, according to the health service.
Once you see your GP about symptoms, the doctor might request a urine sample and carry out a physical examination of your rectum or vagina.
If your GP suspects bladder cancer, they will refer you to a hospital for further tests.
How to reduce your risk of bladder cancer
In over 50 percent of cases, the cause of bladder cancer is unknown, writes Action Bladder Cancer UK.
The American Cancer Society urges people to stop smoking because the unhealthy habit is thought to cause about half of all cases.
People are also encouraged to drink lots of fluids - mainly water - which is believed to help lower your risk of bladder cancer.
The charity added: “Some studies have suggested that a diet high in fruits and vegetables might help protect against bladder cancer, but other studies have not found this.
“Still, eating a healthy diet has been shown to have many benefits, including lowering the risk of some other types of cancer.”
While the majority of bladder cancer patients are diagnosed with primary bladder cancer, mainly affecting the cells lining the bladder, sometimes these cancers can metastasise, or spread to other cells outside of the bladder.
The NHS describes this advanced bladder cancer as: "When the cancerous cells spread beyond the lining, into the surrounding bladder muscle, it's referred to as muscle-invasive bladder cancer (or invasive bladder cancer). This is less common, but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body."
This could cause other symptoms related to other cancers, but feeling pain in your bones could be a sign that the cancerous cells have spread.
If you experience any of these symptoms it is important you speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Even if you do not have visible blood in your urine, tests can be done to find microscopic blood and detect potentially cancerous growths.
