CANCER CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND SAVE LIVES

88 people in Stockport are diagnosed with either bladder or kidney cancer every year and 46 people die from the diseases annually.[i]

However, more than 9 in 10 people in England survive bladder or kidney cancer for at least a year if diagnosed at the earliest stage, but this drops to just 1 in 3 if diagnosed at a late stage.[ii]

Stockport Council and partners are supporting Public Health England’s latest ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign, which aims to help increase awareness of a key symptom of both cancers – blood in pee. The campaign targets men in particular, who are at greater risk of developing bladder and kidney cancers.

Visible blood in pee is a key symptom in many bladder and kidney cancers and those who notice it, even if it’s just the once, should see their doctor without delay. Yet research has found that 43% of people would wait until they saw blood in their pee at least a second time before they contacted their GP.[iii]

Councillor John Pantall, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“This campaign encourages those who notice blood in their pee to go to their doctor straight away. Bladder and kidney cancers are more treatable if they are found early.  If you notice any symptoms it’s really important to visit your GP as soon as you can – if it’s not something serious your GP will still want to see you – it could be that you have an infection or something else that needs treatment.”

Dr Ranjit Gill, Chief Clinical Officer from Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group, said:

“Blood in pee is the most common symptom of both bladder and kidney cancer, and early on sometimes there may be no other warning signs. Don’t ignore the signs if you have them – your doctor will want to see you as soon as possible. Chances are it won’t be something serious but if it is cancer then detecting it early can make a real difference to how successful the treatment is.”

For further information about the signs and symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer, visit nhs.uk/bloodinpee

For free, confidential and local advice on a healthy lifestyle, visit www.healthystockport.co.uk or contact them on 0161 426 5085.

[i] Incidence data supplied by Knowledge and Intelligence Team (South West), PHE based on NCRS and NCDR datasets. Deaths data supplied by South West KIT based on ONS data.(Incidence and mortality data for 2012).

[ii] Incidence data supplied by Knowledge and Intelligence Team (South West), PHE based on NCRS and NCDR datasets. Deaths data supplied by South West KIT based on ONS data. Survival by stage data based on diagnoses in 2006-10.

[iii] TNS BMRB on behalf of Public Health England. Be clear on Cancer Bladder and Kidney Cancer Blood in Pee National Campaign, Evaluation Phase 1 (1577 face to face interviews conducted by TNS BMRB between 20 November and 1 December 2013).