Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Canada and yet, it remains 20th on the list for research funding.

It affects some 80,000 Canadians, with another 8300 to be diagnosed this year.

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness month to help provide information on a common, but poorly understood cancer.

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine.

David Guttman is the co-founder and past chair of Bladder Cancer Canada. He told Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with guest host Jane Brown, early diagnosis is critical in resulting in better outcomes for patients. So when you see red, see your doctor!

“Have him or her tell you that it is not bladder cancer and there’s various methods that they can do to determine that, because very often they will think it is just a urinary tract infection, might be some stones in the kidney,” Guttman explained, “so for your own edification and benefit that you’re diagnosed that you do not have bladder cancer.”

As part of Bladder Cancer Awareness month, the CN Tower will be lit up in yellow and red on May 14th. As of May first, you can also register for the annual Bladder Cancer fundraising walk, which takes place in about 20 Canadian cities, including Toronto, every September. Our own Jane Brown will be leading a team again this year, in honour of her mother, Sandy Brown, who died of bladder cancer four years ago.

Listen to a podcast of Jane Brown’s full conversation with David Guttman here.