Urology Awareness Month

September 2019 is Urology Awareness Month in the UK, which aims to raise awareness of urological diseases.

It is estimated that 1 in 2 of us will be affected by a urology condition in our lifetime. Diseases and cancers of the kidneys, bladder, prostate and the male productive system are becoming more prevalent and devastating millions of men, woman and children in the UK.

Urology covers so much of our body’s most important functions, and so it can be devastating when something goes wrong.

Urological conditions can include:

• Bladder disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Prostate cancer.
• Male productive disease.
• Renal cancer.
• Urinary incontinence.
• Urinary tract infections.

Serious urological problems include kidney and bladder cancer, and as with so many cancers, the earlier these are detected, the more chance of survival.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is often discovered by chance when a patient who has no symptoms has a scan or ultrasound for some other reason. However, symptoms of kidney cancer can include:

• Blood in the urine.
• Painful spasms in the groin or abdomen.
• A lump in the abdomen.
• Dull ache in the side.
• Persistent high fever.
• High blood pressure.
• Weight loss.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the 10^th most common cancer in the UK with around 10,000 new cases every year. Sadly, around 5,000 people also die from the disease each year.

Bladder cancer is easier to treat when it is caught early, so awareness of the signs of bladder cancer can make all the difference.

Symptoms can include:

• Blood in the urine.
• Pain when urinating.
• A change in urination pattern.
• The need to urinate but not passing urine.
• Lower back pain.

Smoking is also a big factor, as is age. The majority of cases of bladder cancer are in people over the age of 50. However, if you smoke or have been a smoker, the risk is even higher, so it is very important to know the signs and symptoms.

More information on Urology Awareness Month can be found at www.theurologyfoundation.org