Be Clear on Cancer
Regional Bladder and Kidney Cancer Campaign
14 January – 17th March 2013
Short article for use/editing by partners / comms leads.
[produced by NECN comms support]
Be clear on cancer – don’t ignore bleeding
The Department of Health is promoting an important health message during January to March
2013 – "if you notice blood in your pee, even if it is just the once, tell your doctor".
Blood in your pee can be an early sign of bladder or kidney cancer. It could be something much
less serious, but it’s important you get it checked out.
Every year around 1,000 people are diagnosed with bladder and kidney cancer in the North of
England and nearly half of those die due to the disease.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Both cancers affect men and women, although they are more common in men. Most people
diagnosed with these cancers are over 50. Those with a family history of bladder cancer are more
prone to developing the disease, as are those who have worked in manufacturing jobs that
involved the use of rubber, dyes, textiles, plastics or certain other chemicals. People on kidney
dialysis are more at risk of developing kidney cancer.
If you notice any blood in your pee, even if it is just once, tell your doctor straight away. The
chances are it’s nothing serious, but these cancers are more treatable if they are found early.
[approx 205 words to this point]
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
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. And if you know anyone
who has symptoms, insist they see their doctor.
[approx 270 words to this point]
Below is a table showing local figure:
Bladder and Kidney cancer (combined): number of cases and number of deaths per year, by
local area (2009):
Helen Gray NECN Comms support. May 2012
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Number of cases
[2009]
England
NECN
Newcastle
North Tyneside
Hartlepool
Stockton-on-Tees
Darlington
Gateshead
South Tyneside
Sunderland
Middlesbrough
County Durham
Redcar and Cleveland
Northumberland
Cumbria Teaching
North Yorkshire
Number of deaths
[2009]
Kidney & Bladder
Cancers
%
Kidney & Bladder
Cancers
%
15,334
957
68
72
28
69
33
56
40
101
56
165
53
94
146
268
5.7%
5.5%
5.0%
6.3%
5.5%
6.4%
6.0%
4.9%
4.4%
6.0%
7.3%
5.7%
6.0%
4.9%
4.9%
5.9%
7,083
434
28
35
13
29
19
27
26
35
25
74
17
46
64
113
5.5%
4.8%
3.8%
6.2%
4.9%
5.3%
5.8%
4.4%
5.2%
3.9%
6.2%
4.9%
3.9%
5.0%
4.3%
5.3%
Source: NCIN\UKCIS. % = the percent of all cases, deaths (C00-C97 exc C44), by locality
Please note these are for use in the short article produced to promote the campaign provided.
Helen Gray NECN Comms support. May 2012
2