A national “Be Clear on Cancer” campaign is being launched by Public Health England, highlighting blood in pee as a key symptom of bladder and kidney cancers.
The campaign on TV, radio, online and in print will encourage everyone to “look before they flush” and visit their GP without delay if they notice blood in their pee, even if it’s just once.
A new survey reveals that only 16% of adults aged 50 and over in England – those most at risk of these cancers – say they check the colour of their pee every time they go to the toilet. According to the survey, women are even less likely to check every time, with only 12% saying they do, compared to 20% of men.
A new short film featuring TV doctor Dawn Harper is being released as part of the campaign. It shows what to look out for as the colour of blood in your pee can vary – from very diluted to bright red or even dark brown, like the colour of weak black tea. You can watch the film by clicking here.
Blood in pee is a symptom in almost two thirds (64%) of all bladder cancers and around a fifth (18%) of kidney cancers. Blood might not appear every time, so it is important that people seek medical help even if they notice it just once. Worryingly, around half (47%) of those surveyed said they would not seek medical advice if they saw blood in their pee just once, with 45% saying they would wait and see if it happened again, potentially putting off a vital diagnosis.
When asked why they would not go to the GP straight away, one in five (20%) say they would be worried about wasting the GP’s time and nearly a quarter (23%) would only book an appointment sooner if they had other symptoms.
Latest figures show that every year in England around 19,100 people are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer and around 8,000 people die from these diseases. Early diagnosis is critical; 84% of those diagnosed with kidney cancer and 77% of those diagnosed with bladder cancer at the earliest stage (stage 1) will live for at least five years. At a late stage (stage 4), this drops to 10% and 9% respectively.
Professor Julia Verne, from Public Health England, said: “It is vital that people know that blood in pee could be a sign of cancer. Our research shows only a small number of people check the colour of their pee every time they go to the toilet.
“People need to get into the habit of looking before they flush to spot any signs of blood in their pee. And if there is blood, they shouldn’t hesitate about going to their GP. This will help diagnose more people at the early stages, when cancer is more treatable – improving their chances of living longer.”
Dr Dawn Harper, TV Doctor and GP, said: “I’m urging people to be vigilant to changes in their body and to check their pee. I hear all too often about people who have delayed seeking medical advice if they have worrying symptoms – like blood in pee – because they are afraid of what the doctor might find or what the treatment might be.
“If you do notice blood in your pee, it’s probably nothing serious, but it’s always worth checking with a health professional – you won’t be wasting their time. It’s vital that people don’t put off getting help; if it is cancer, early diagnosis saves lives.”
Professor Chris Harrison, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, added: “The earlier people are diagnosed, the better their chances, which is why it is vital people understand what to look out for and when to visit the GP. This campaign has the important aim of helping raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer and encouraging people to visit their GP after seeing blood in their pee.”
The ‘Be Clear on Cancer – Blood in Pee’ campaign runs until September 23rd. For more information about the signs and symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer, search online by keying ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ into your browser.