Bladder cancer is the UK’s seventh most common form of cancer, with over 10,000 new cases of the disease diagnosed each year. Bladder cancer is much more common in men than women; it is also rare in younger people, with over 80 percent of cases being diagnosed in people over the age of 65.
Causes
Bladder cancer is much more common in smokers than non-smokers and is also common in those that have been exposed to harmful carcinogenic chemicals including asbestos and arsenic.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is the presence of blood in the urine (this can be indicative of a number of different health conditions but it is always important to get checked out if you see blood in your urine). Other common symptoms include an increase in the frequency of urination, needing to urinate suddenly and a burning sensation during urination. Less common symptoms include pain in the pelvis and bones, abnormal weight loss and inflammation in the legs.
Reducing the risk
Giving up smoking will dramatically reduce the risk of you getting bladder cancer; changing your diet to reduce your intake of fatty foods that are high in cholesterol and increase your intake of fruit and vegetables may also decrease the chances of developing bladder cancer.