MAY IS BLADDER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
“Blood
in your pee? – see your GP”
Going to the loo is an everyday thing
we take for granted – until …… your pee burns, or dribbles, or won’t come,
smells funny or looks different.
Dr Kalli Spencer, a urologist in
Australia, sent me the following information I’d like to share with you.
“Bladder Cancer is around more than
we realise. Although it affects mostly
men over the age of 60, oncologists are finding that younger women are contracting
the disease. Like many cancers, bladder cancer takes various forms from low
grade to high grade/invasive, the latter becoming serious once it grows through
the bladder wall. Like many other cancers, bladder cancer may be effectively
treated if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, bladder cancer can be misdiagnosed
as a urinary tract infection (UTI), so look out for other early warning signs
such as blood in the urine, irregularity or pain when urinating.
“How Covid has affected bladder
cancer patients. During covid, there
has been a 30+% drop in cancer referrals simply because people are apprehensive
about going to the doctor or hospital, and so they’re ignoring symptoms. This
puts them at a bigger risk because this could lead to a surge in advanced stage
cancers when people do finally pluck up the courage to get medical help.”
My late Father-in-Law started
passing blood in his urine one Christmas morning. It was not until the New Year
that he could see a doctor (being Christmas and all), but when he did, it was
found that he was already in the advanced stages of cancer. His bladder was
removed and he was fitted with a bag. He lived for another year.
Please share this information with friends
and family - especially men (you know how they are when it comes to doctors).
More interesting bladder facts:
Urine is usually slightly acidic –
this makes it slightly antiseptic – which helps to kill bacteria and prevent
infections. Vegetarians, because of the alkaline salts found in vegetables,
have more alkaline urine which may predispose them to infections. Vegetarians
need to take the necessary precautions e.g. toilet hygiene, drinking lots of water,
and emptying the bladder when you feel the urge. The average daily output is
about 1,500mls.
Passing more urine than normal
(especially at night) can be a sign of Diabetes, and passing small, frequent
amounts could be caused by the pressure of an enlarged prostate gland, a tumour,
kidney stones or an infection (UTI’s don’t always cause a burning sensation).
Passing less urine than normal can
be a symptom of kidney disease, heart failure or the result of a fever.
Difficulty passing urine can be caused by a stricture or damage e.g. to the
spine, to the urethra or bladder after childbirth, surgery for piles
(haemorrhoids) or pressure from a tumour. Anuria means not passing urine at
all. This is serious and needs urgent medical attention.
Bladder health is as important as
heart health. Don’t think of going to the loo as an inconvenience, think of it
as an opportunity to give your bladder a few minutes of attention.
