Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal cancerous tissue, known as a tumour, develops in the bladder lining. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your urine. If you notice blood in your urine, visit your GP, to investigate the cause.
Symptoms of bladder cancer
Blood in your urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer.
It's usually painless.
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.
Less common symptoms of bladder cancer include:
- a need to pee more often
- sudden urges to urinate
- a burning sensation when passing urine
If bladder cancer reaches an advanced stage and begins to spread, symptoms can include:
- pelvic pain
- bone pain
- unintentional weight loss
- swelling of the legs
When to see your GP
If you ever have blood in your urine, even if it comes and goes, you should see your GP to find the cause.
Having blood in your urine doesn't mean you definitely have bladder cancer.
More common causes include:
- a urinary tract infection, such as cystitis
- a kidney infection
- kidney stones
- urethritis
- an enlarged prostate gland, in men
Causes of bladder cancer
Most cases of bladder cancer appear to be caused by exposure to harmful substances. This can lead to abnormal changes in the bladder's cells over many years.
Tobacco smoke is a common cause. It's estimated that half of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.
Contact with certain chemicals previously used in manufacturing is also known to cause bladder cancer. These substances have since been banned.
Treatment for bladder cancer
If you are diagnosed with bladder cancer, your hospital consultant will discuss treatment options with you.
In cases of bladder cancer where the cancer hasn’t spread to the bladder muscle, it's usually possible to remove the cancerous cells from the lining of the bladder, while leaving the rest of the bladder intact.
If the cancer is more advanced, or is a type of cancer of higher risk, treatment may involve surgery to remove the bladder.
A course of radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be recommended; both may be given together. These treatments may also be used along with surgical treatment.
Preventing bladder cancer
It's not always possible to prevent bladder cancer. But some things may increase your risk of developing the condition.
Stopping smoking
Stopping smoking, if you smoke, is the best way to lower your chances of developing bladder cancer or preventing it from recurring.
Workplace safety
Your risk of bladder cancer could be increased if your job involves exposure to certain chemicals.
There are safety protocols in place to minimise your risk of exposure. Chemicals known to increase the risk of bladder cancer have been banned.
If you're uncertain about what these protocols involve, talk to your line manager or health and safety representative.
Diet
A diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in fat can help prevent bladder cancer.
Following a healthy diet can also help prevent other types of cancer and serious health conditions, such as:
Types of bladder cancer
Once diagnosed, bladder cancer can be classified by how far it has spread.
If the cancerous cells are inside the lining of the bladder, doctors describe it as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
This is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for seven out of 10 cases.
Most people don't die as a result of this type of bladder cancer.
When the cancerous cells spread beyond the lining, into the surrounding muscles of the bladder, it's known as muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
This is less common, but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body and can be fatal.
Who is affected
Bladder cancer is more common in older adults.
More than 90 per cent of people diagnosed in Northern Ireland between 2011 and 2015 were over the age of 55.
Rates are highest among men aged 85 to 89 and highest among women aged over 90.
In Northern Ireland, the probability a man will develop bladder cancer before the age of 75 is around one in 115.
The probability a woman will develop bladder cancer before the age of 75 is one in 382.
In Northern Ireland, bladder cancer is about twice as common in men as it is in women.
Outlook
Rates of bladder cancer have been decreasing in Northern Ireland in recent years. Most cases are diagnosed at an earlier stage.
Survival rates are better the earlier a diagnosis is made, so if you have symptoms, the quicker you get advice the better the outcome if you have cancer.
In Northern Ireland, overall, for men diagnosed with bladder cancer, 58.9 per cent are living at five years after diagnosis and treatment; for women the figure is 47.4 per cent.
More useful links
- Northern Ireland Cancer Network
- Action Cancer
- Marie Curie
- Cancer Focus Northern Ireland
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Cancer Research UK
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
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