Arabic version: خبراء يطالبون بإحالات أسرع للنساء المشتبه بإصابتهن بسرطان المثانة

According to ABC News, experts and advocates are seeking greater awareness of bladder cancer symptoms and stronger referral pathways for women whose symptoms are repeatedly treated as urinary tract infections or perimenopause. Although three in four Australians diagnosed with bladder cancer are men, women have a lower five-year survival rate and can face delays before receiving a diagnosis.

Andrea Harris said four years passed between first visiting her GP with a suspected bladder infection and being diagnosed with advanced, muscle-invasive bladder cancer in March 2024. She returned to doctors several times as symptoms recurred after antibiotic courses. Her cancer had progressed to stage three by the time it was diagnosed.

Medical oncologist Alison Zhang of Macquarie University Hospital said symptoms such as blood in the urine and a frequent need to urinate can be similar for women and men, but may be mistaken for UTIs or perimenopause in women. About 3,345 bladder cancer cases were estimated to be diagnosed in Australia last year. The five-year survival rate for women is about 50 per cent, compared with almost 60 per cent for men.

University of Melbourne GP and women’s health expert Magdalena Simonis said women with recurrent UTIs should receive further investigation and/or a referral to a urologist. She defined recurrent infections as more than two within six months or three within a year, and said GPs should consider factors including smoking and age when treating UTI-like symptoms.

Christine La Rose, a survivor and patient and support lead for BEAT Bladder Cancer Australia, said blood in the urine should always be investigated. She and Margaret Blake, who saw three GPs in six months before being referred for tests, urged women to seek further advice if symptoms persist. Ms La Rose said bladder cancer is often viewed as an older man’s disease, but she has met women in their 20s, 30s and 40s who were diagnosed.