Monday, September 1, 2014

Invisible blood in urine should spark further testing in those over 60

Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site 
via Wikimedia Commons
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 1, 2014 – Invisible blood in urine may be clue to bladder cancer that could make all the difference in successfully treating the disease, new research shows.

The study examined data from 26,000 people and found that one in 60 people over the age of 60 who had invisible blood in their urine found by laboratory testing, turned out to have bladder cancer.
That compared to half of those who have visible blood in urine, a known symptom of bladder cancer. The study was published in the Sept. 1, 2014 British Journal of General Practice.

The study should provide guidance to doctors whose patients’ urine samples detect blood that is not visible during routine tests. While a one in 60 chance of cancer is far from a conclusive result, lead author of the study, Sarah Price, a doctoral student at the University of Exeter Medical School, says such invisible blood should warrant further testing.

“Early diagnosis is crucial to have the best chance of successfully treating bladder cancer,” Price said in a press release. “The three-quarters of patients who are diagnosed early have much better outcomes than those whose disease is diagnosed late. Anything we can do to boost early detection is crucial to help save lives.” 

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