Invisible Blood in Urine Early Indicator of Bladder Cancer

First Posted: Sep 01, 2014 05:55 AM EDT
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A new research has revealed that the presence of invisible blood in urine might be an early warning for bladder cancer.

This cancer begins in the bladder - the balloon-shaped organ in the pelvic area that collects urine - and is listed as the 6th most common type of cancer in the U.S. According to the Urology Care Foundation, it is estimated that more than 74,000 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2014 and more than 15,000 will die due to the cancer. Not much is known on how bladder cancer develops and progresses. Nowadays, bladder cancer is often accomplished by a CT Urogram. It is more common in older men than women. It has been established that smoking is the main cause of this cancer.

In the current study, researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School found that invisible blood is an early sign of bladder cancer. Among seniors aged 60 years, 1 in 60 had invisible blood in their urine that was an indication of bladder cancer. 

Lead author Sarah Price, a PhD student at the University of Exeter Medical School, said: "It is well known that if you see blood in your urine you should contact your GP, who is likely to refer you for tests. But there is no clear guidance for GPs on what to do if they detect blood that is not visible during routine tests."

In this study, the researchers evaluated over 26,000 people who contributed to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. They noticed that in those, who had invisible blood in their urine, the risk of bladder cancer was 1.6 percent.

"We are hopeful that our findings will now lead to robust guidance that it warrants further investigation. Early diagnosis is crucial to have the best chance of successfully treating bladder cancer. The three-quarters of patients who are diagnosed early have much better outcomes than those whose disease is diagnosed late. Anything we can do to boost early detection is crucial to help save lives," said Price.

The finding was documented in the British Journal of General Practice.

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