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Dr Amir Khan has warned that bladder cancer is one of the “least talked about” cancers, despite 28 people being diagnosed with the condition every day.
Just like with any other cancer, the TV doctor explained “the key is to catch it early”, but symptoms can often be dismissed as something else.
Fortunately, Dr Amir took to his Instagram to outline 11 warning signs of the potentially deadly condition.
Dr Amir said: “Bladder cancer signs and symptoms can be mistaken for urinary tract infection or bladder stones. And most definitely those things are more common and symptoms overlap.
“But it’s worth knowing when you need to speak to a healthcare professional.”
The key symptom the doctor recommended scanning the toilet bowl for is blood in your urine.
Dr Amir said: “Blood in your urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. It can appear red, orange, pink, brown and can come and go and is usually but not always painless.”
The NHS adds that you may only notice streaks of blood in your pee.
Other early symptoms worth knowing can include pain when peeing, going to the toilet to pass water more often, or the sudden and uncontrollable urge to pee.
Dr Amir said: “Blood in your urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. It can appear red, orange, pink, brown and can come and go and is usually but not always painless.”
As the cancer progresses, other symptoms can appear. The doctor recommended looking out for abdominal pain, swelling of the legs, and flank pain on your back in the later stages.
The cancer can eventually spread to other areas of your body, causing signs, including bone pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you experience the red flag signs of bladder cancer.
Dr Amir added: “The key is to catch it early, so if you notice any blood in your urine, no matter how small, even if it happened just once and it’s no longer the case, don’t put it off. See a healthcare professional.”
