September is urological cancer awareness month. With most cancers, the earlier they are diagnosed, the better chance of treatment. It can be difficult to talk about and open up about symptoms of urological cancer and there is a perceived stigma, however the more openly we can talk about urological health, the better.
What are urological cancers?
Cancers that originate within:
- The urinary system, including the bladder and kidneys.
- The prostate, penis or testicles.
Some symptoms to be aware of with these types of cancer include:
- Blood in your urine.
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate.
- Pain in your lower stomach or one side of your lower back.
- Difficulty urinating, for example due to pain or discomfort, a weak flow or having to strain.
- A feeling your bladder isn’t empty after urinating.
- In men, a lump in the testicle, groin or penis or changes to the skin of the penis, discharge and bleeding.
Some types of urological cancer are more frequently missed at initial diagnoses compared to others. As bladder cancer is one of them, in this article we want to focus on it and share some lessons learnt from the experiences of our clients.
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is where a growth of abnormal tissue (a tumour) develops in the lining of the bladder. In some cases, it can spread into the bladder muscle. The most common symptom is blood in the urine, which is usually painless. The blood may be visible, or it may only be detectable when a doctor or nurse tests urine with a dipstick.
The risk of bladder cancer is higher in people aged 60 or over. One of the risk factors is smoking. Blood in your urine doesn’t always mean it’s bladder cancer, but if someone experiences any symptoms, it’s crucial to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible, even if the blood only comes and goes.
A doctor should test urine for blood and sent it off for analysis to test whether the patient has a urinary tract infection (UTI). The laboratory may also test for cancer cells. An internal examination may be required as the bladder is close to internal organs such as the bowel, the prostate or womb. If cancer is suspected or the cause of the symptoms is unclear, the next step is being referred to a urologist. If bladder cancer is suspected, this referral will be made on an urgent basis.
After testing, where a patient is diagnosed with bladder cancer, a team of specialists will meet to discuss the treatment options. Treatment depends upon the type of cancer, the stage and grade, how many tumours there are and their general health. It’s therefore crucial that any urological symptoms should be examined as soon as possible.
Missed or delayed diagnosis
Bladder cancer is often misdiagnosed. The main reason for that is that its symptoms can be similar to those of less serious conditions like urinary tract infections and kidney stones. In fact, according to a global survey published by the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition more than half of people with bladder cancer are initially diagnosed with another condition.
The survey found that a significant number of bladder cancer patients felt their symptoms were not taken seriously by their doctors initially. This was particularly true for women, younger patients, and those with advanced or metastatic cancers.
Specifically, one in five (20%) patients reported that their symptoms were not taken seriously during their first doctor’s visit. This number was higher for women (31%), younger patients under 55 (33%), and those with advanced or metastatic cancers (31%).
Despite this, most patients did eventually seek further medical attention. The majority visited their doctor once (52%) or twice (23%) before being referred to a specialist. However, a concerning 10% of patients visited their doctor five or more times before receiving a specialist referral.
If a healthcare provider fails to diagnose bladder cancer in a timely manner, or if they provide inappropriate treatment, it can lead to serious consequences, including the progression of the disease and a reduced chance of survival. For instance, a delay in diagnosis can allow the cancer to spread to other parts of the body, making it more difficult to treat.
We are here to help
Unfortunately, medical treatment does not always go right and there may have been missed opportunities by your GP or a specialist doctor to diagnose your urological cancer. Your symptoms may have been missed, or you may have experienced a very long wait until diagnosis which meant that early detection was not possible.
Enable Law specialises in medical negligence and cancer compensation claims, and we are here to advise and help you if you have concerns about the treatment of your urological cancer care. Should you have any concerns regarding your medical care and for a free and confidential discussion, contact us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form below.
