Hansard

I thank colleagues from across the chamber for signing the motion so that we can have the debate. I also commend the work of Fight Bladder Cancer—a relatively small organisation that is dedicated to raising awareness of the symptoms of bladder cancer and the support that is available for those who are diagnosed with it. I first became aware of Fight Bladder Cancer shortly after the 2021 election, and I was delighted to host its first parliamentary reception in February 2023. That followed the organisation’s officially becoming registered as a charity in Scotland in July 2022.

As I highlighted during my opening remarks at that event, Fight Bladder Cancer’s work was first brought to my attention by one of my constituents, Laura MacKenzie, as she is an ambassador for the charity. She highlighted the charity’s four main objectives: to support patients and their family and friends, and all people who are affected by bladder cancer; to raise awareness about the causes and symptoms of bladder cancer so that it can be caught early; to campaign for and support research into bladder cancer; and to affect policy at the highest levels to bring about change in bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment.

According to Fight Bladder Cancer, nearly 1,700 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year in Scotland, and the majority of them are over 60 years old. Worryingly, around 50 per cent of bladder cancer cases are preventable. That tells a huge story about the work that is required to highlight the symptoms of bladder cancer, so I want to take the opportunity to list them in order to raise awareness.

The signs and symptoms to look out for include blood in your wee, which is the most common symptom of bladder cancer; urinary infections that do not respond to antibiotics; pain when weeing; needing to wee frequently; tiredness; abdominal pain; weight loss; incontinence, and lower back pain.

According to Fight Bladder Cancer’s website, very few people will experience all those symptoms, but that is why people should talk to their general practitioner if they experience any of them. Other, less serious conditions can have the same symptoms, too, but—again—that is why it is critical that people do not delay, and speak to their GP.

My motion highlights the need to improve outcomes for patients with bladder cancer. That is because, according to Cancer Research UK, bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United Kingdom after breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer.

A report from Fight Bladder Cancer notes that:

“survival for patients with bladder cancer has not improved over the last three decades, with certain groups affected by bladder cancer, including women and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, experiencing poorer outcomes”.

The report highlights other research, which states that:

“Bladder cancer patients experience a high rate of recurrence, long and invasive surveillance and expensive treatment”.

It notes that:

“Patients also report worse overall experiences than most other common cancers”.

Not only is that not good enough for patients; it is also costly for our national health service, as the report notes:

“Bladder cancer has the highest cost of any cancer, when considered on a per-patient basis”.

I believe that every member in the chamber agrees that prevention is better than the cure—to be frank, that could be said for anything. That approach helps to ensure patients do not endure more invasive and extensive treatment, which is also more expensive to deliver.

It is imperative, then, that we consider how we can support our NHS to better diagnose bladder cancer. A key part of that—as I have indicated—is making sure that we raise awareness of the key signs and symptoms. I cannot stress that point enough, and I refer to the statistic I mentioned previously: half of bladder cancer cases are preventable. Part of that preventative work is about considering how we can maintain healthier lifestyles, and Fight Bladder Cancer has put together a range of resources to help with that.

According to NHS Inform,

“Most cases of bladder cancer appear to be caused by exposure to harmful substances, which lead to abnormal changes in the bladder’s cells over many years.

Tobacco smoke is a common cause and it’s estimated that half of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.”

It is almost 20 years since Scotland introduced the smoking ban, which was a key public health policy that has helped massively in shifting public attitudes towards smoking. Scotland led the way on that policy in the UK, and I believe that we are ambitious enough to want to lead the way on bladder cancer.

In closing, I draw attention to Fight Bladder Cancer’s white paper from May 2024. The document includes a range of recommendations that are UK-wide, but there are takeaways for us in Scotland to consider. While there is no one policy or action that will deliver all the changes that are required, there are key areas where we need to effect change.

First, we need to establish an exemplar pathway for bladder cancer care to help to deliver quicker referral and diagnosis for those with suspected bladder cancer.

Secondly, strengthening the bladder cancer healthcare workforce will help to achieve better outcomes for bladder cancer patients. We know that that is a key recommendation across several areas in our health service, and that Scotland is not alone in facing staffing challenges.

Thirdly, we can boost awareness, support and participation throughout the bladder cancer pathway for patients, carers and families, and ensure that patients are empowered to make informed decisions about their care. We know that taking a holistic approach to healthcare and keeping patients informed at all stages of their treatment journey is absolutely vital. Again, that could be said about any aspect of healthcare. It helps to keep patients invested in how they can make small lifestyle changes to support their treatment, and it helps to safeguard their mental wellbeing during what will be a very difficult time.

I once again thank members for supporting the motion, and I thank those who will be speaking in debate. I also thank Fight Bladder Cancer for its efforts to improve outcomes for bladder cancer patients in Scotland, and I look forward to continuing to work with the organisation to help to deliver that in Scotland.