Visible blood in urine — even if painless and gone by the next day — still warrants a check-up
Among people aged 60 and older, the chance of ultimately being diagnosed with bladder cancer after experiencing one episode of visible blood in urine is about 2.8%. For those aged 40–59, that figure is roughly 1.2%. These percentages may not seem very high, but they’re high enough to justify getting checked — even if the bleeding stops the very next day.
A routine urine test costs just a few dozen yuan, while a…
A UK study analyzed electronic medical records from primary-care clinics, comparing 4,915 patients diagnosed w…
A routine urine test costs just a few dozen yuan, while a urinary-system ultrasound runs around 100–200 yuan. If a doctor deems it necessary, a cystoscopy can be added at a cost of roughly 1,000 yuan.
A UK study analyzed electronic medical records from primary-care clinics, comparing 4,915 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer against 21,718 controls. Among patients with visible blood in urine, the proportion ultimately found to have bladder cancer was 2.8% for those aged 60+, with a 95% confidence interval of 2.5–3.1. For ages 40–59, the figure was 1.2%, with a 95% CI of 0.6–2.3. This proportion is known as the positive predictive value. Blood visible only under a microscope also carries significance; the odds ratio is 20, with a 95% CI of 12–33. For those over 60, this figure is 1.6%, with a 95% CI of 1.2–2.1.
Price SJ, Shephard EA, Stapley SA, Barraclough K, Hamilton WT (2014). Non-visible versus visible haematuria and bladder cancer risk: a study of electronic records in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 64(626), e584-e589. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp14X681409
Open source linkThe absence of pain is a key clue. Blood in urine caused by kidney stones or infections usually comes with abdominal or flank pain, plus frequent, urgent, or painful urination. Cancer-related bleeding, however, often causes no discomfort at all and may disappear for a few days before returning — which is why many people overlook it. Taking anticoagulant medications is not a valid reason to skip testing. Blood in urine after intense exercise or during a woman’s menstrual period can be re-evaluated before deciding on further checks. The benefit is rated “low” because it reflects only detection rates, not any measurable reduction in mortality resulting from early diagnosis.