Why is the Campaign Important?
Lack of awareness of the signs of urological cancers can prevent people from getting the right treatment for bladder cancer when the symptoms first appear. The quicker people can recognise that there is a problem and seek help, the better the chances of success.
Lack of Awareness
A recent survey into the public’s understanding of urological cancers found that many of us know very little about these conditions and the risks:
- Only 16% of the over 50s, who are most at risk of bladder cancer, actually check their urine for blood on a regular basis
- Women are even less likely to check than men
- Almost half of those surveyed said that they would not see a doctor the first time they noticed blood, but would wait to see if it happened again, even though this could delay their treatment for bladder cancer or kidney cancer
- Early diagnosis is vital as around 75% of those diagnosed with early stage bladder cancer and 85% with early kidney cancer will survive
- Only 10% of those diagnosed with late stage bladder or kidney cancer will survive
- 8000 people in the UK die every year from bladder or kidney cancer