Bladder

Bladder cancer occurs when there is an abnormal growth of tissue within the bladder. In the UK around 10,000 are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year, making it the 10th most common cancer in the UK. The average age of patients affected is 73, with 9 out of 10 patients being over the age of 55.

Bladder cancer can be put into two different categories:

• Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer – this is the most common type and easier to treat
• Muscle-invasive bladder cancer – this is less common, occurring when the cancer spreads to the muscles within the bladder. This form of cancer can spread more easily

The exact cause is unknown; however, it is thought to be linked to exposure to a harmful substance for a long period of time e.g. smoking tobacco cigarettes.

Symptoms

Visible blood in urine is one of the most common signs that someone has cancer of the bladder. The medical name for this condition is haematuria. Haematuria can present in different ways, the urine may have a brown colour to it or there may be noticeable streaks of blood in the urine.

Other associated symptoms:

• Sudden urges to urinate
• Needing to go to the toilet more often
• Discomfort while urinating
• Pain around the pelvis or back
• Sudden weight loss
• Visible swelling in the legs

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is a good idea to go and see your GP. In most cases they will ask for your family history, a list of symptoms that you have been experiencing, a physical examination to feel for tender areas and in most cases a urine and blood test to pick up any abnormalities.

If you are worried, contact our expert team at our bladder clinic today.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Urinary incontinence is a very common condition, affecting people of different ages. Urinary incontinence is described as the unintentional passing of urine.

There are different types of urinary incontinence. The most common including:

• Stress incontinence – this occurs when the bladder is under pressure. For example, urine leaks when you cough or laugh
• Urge incontinence – this occurs when you leak at the same time or just before you get the sudden urge to go to the toilet
• Overflow incontinence – this type of incontinence can also be referred to as chronic urinary retention. This happens when the bladder is unable to fully empty and therefore results in frequent leaking
• Total incontinence – this occurred when the bladder is unable to store any urine and therefore results in constant or regular urinary leaking

For some, they may experience a mixture of both stress and urge incontinence.

If you believe that you are experiencing urinary incontinence it is a good idea to go and see your GP. Although you might find this first step slightly embarrassing, it is the necessary step to get your condition under control; remember it is a very common condition.

Urinary incontinence is usually caused by a muscle weakness or an obstruction/ blockage. In some cases, this can also be caused by birth defects or spinal injuries (this is less common).

Here are some factors that put you at risk of developing urinary incontinence:

• Pregnancy and child birth
• Obesity
• A family history
• Ageing

After seeing you GP you may be referred to see a specialist about your symptoms. They will go over the different treatment options. These will usually include lifestyle changes; surgery will only be offered as a last resort.

Here are some lifestyle changes you can follow to improve your incontinence:

• Maintain a healthy weight – this can helps to relieve some of the pressure on the bladder
• Drinking – try to remove or reduce the amount of caffeine and alcohol you are drinking.
• Pelvic floor exercise – if you incontinence is cause by a weak muscle, these exercise can help to relieve the symptoms.

Urology Clinics Manchester’s bladder and kidney clinics have a team of specialists to help you diagnose, manage and treat your incontinence, contact us here.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.

What does it mean if there is blood in the urine?

Haematuria means the appearance of blood in your urine. If you notice blood in your urine, even if it has only happened once, you must have it investigated. This is important as blood in your urine or haematuria may be a sign of bladder cancer, however, the most common cause is due to an infection (cystitis).

Other causes include stones in the kidneys or bladder, inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis), urinary tract injuries, blood disorders (eg. sickle cell disease) and less common infections such as TB. 50% of patients with visible blood in the urine will have an underlying cause identified, however, with non-visible blood in the urine, only 10% will have a cause identified.

The appearance of blood in the urine may, in fact, be something else. It may not be blood in your urine if;

• You are taking a new medication. Some medicines can turn urine red or brown.
• You have recently eaten beetroot as this can turn your urine pink.
• If it is happening during your period.
• If you are bleeding from your bottom instead.

Haematuria is a urological condition that means you have visible blood in your urine. If you notice blood in your urine, then it is important that you get it investigated, even if it is a one off. Haematuria is most commonly caused by a urine infection (cystitis), however it can sometimes occur as a result of bladder cancer; so must not be ignored.

Other causes include:

• Kidney or bladder stones
• Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis),
• Injury to the urinary tract
• Blood disorders (such as sickle cell)
• Less commonly infections such as TB

Symptoms
Blood in your urine may appear as bright pink, red or dark brown colour if it is visible. Other symptoms that accompany this can be indicative of the cause. For example, burning pain when urinating, an urgency to urinate, smelly urine, high temperature and pain in your sides or lower back may indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI). If you experience pain in your sides, lower back or groin that comes and goes and you feel nauseous this suggests kidney stones.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Your consultant will ask you about your past medical history and the symptoms you have been experiencing. A urine test called a urinalysis will be performed initially to check for an infection. If the cause of haematuria is an infection this can be treated with a course of antibiotics.

If there are no signs of an infection, some or all of the following assessments will be performed:

• A physical examination (including rectal or vaginal examination)
• Examination of your urine for cancerous cells
• Ultrasound scan
• CT scan (may involve an iodine-based injection)
• Intravenous urogram (IVU) (may involve an iodine-based injection)
• Flexible cystoscopy (telescopic check of the bladder)

If an abnormality is detected, your treatment will depend on the reason for blood appearing in your urine. If no specific abnormalities are found and no treatment is required, it is important that you report any further bleeding or symptoms to your consultant.

If you have haematuria or are worried about any symptoms, contact our specialist team here.

This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.