New Be Clear on Cancer campaign raises awareness of blood in urine

A new Be Clear on Cancer campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the health implications of discovering blood in urine.

The Public Health England campaign is aimed at men and women aged 50 and over, and is intended to highlight the fact that blood appearing in the urine is a key symptom for both bladder and kidney cancers.

Around 17,450 people in England are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer every year and around 7,600 people die from these illnesses annually. However, finding the symptoms early and treating the disease as soon as possible can greatly improve survival rates.

This campaign ran nationally in 2013 and 2014. Analysis of diagnoses during the 2013 campaign period shows a statistically significant increase in the number of bladder and kidney cancers diagnosed at precancerous and early stage, and a reduction in late-stage diagnoses.

Dr Jenny Harries, regional director for the south of England at Public Health England, said: "The rise in the number of bladder and kidney cancers being picked up early is important; it is this early detection that saves lives."