City of York Council is supporting the NHS Be Clear on Cancer ‘Blood in Pee’ campaign.

The campaign will run from 15 October to 20 November 2013 across England. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the key symptom common to both bladder and kidney cancer – blood in pee – and encourage those with this symptom, even if it’s ‘just the once’, to see their doctor straight away. If bladder and kidney cancers are diagnosed early they are more treatable.

Adverts will appear on national TV, radio and in the press.

Around 65 people in York (1774 people in Yorkshire and Humber) are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer each year and these cancers account for around 7,500 deaths per year across the country.

If bladder and kidney cancers are diagnosed at the earliest stage, one-year survival is as high as 92-97%. At a late stage, it drops to just 25-34%.

Blood in pee is a key symptom in over 80% of bladder cancers and over half of kidney cancers. But, when asked to name cancer signs and symptoms, fewer than three in 10 people mention unexplained bleeding.

Other kidney cancer symptoms include:


·A pain below the ribs that doesn’t go away

·A lump in your stomach

Other bladder cancer symptoms include:


·Needing to pee very often or very suddenly

·Pain while peeing

City of York Council’s Director of Health and Wellbeing Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones said: “If you visit your doctor it’s very straightforward for them to examine you and decide whether to arrange further tests. If your doctor suspects it might be bladder or kidney cancer, you will be urgently referred to a hospital and they will then organise tests, and, if necessary, treatment. You will either get reassurance that it isn’t cancer, or if it is you will have a better chance of successful treatment.

“You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting your symptoms checked out – it might be a sign of something else that needs treatment. And if your symptoms persist, go back to your doctor – they’ll want to help.”

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