When recurrent UTIs mask the warning signs of bladder cancer

Urologist Fara Bellows discusses her article "When recurrent UTIs might actually be bladder cancer." Fara shares the story of a 91-year-old patient whose recurrent urinary infections masked an underlying bladder cancer diagnosis, illustrating how easily symptoms can be misattributed. She explains risk factors such as smoking, prior radiation, and occupational exposures, and highlights the alarming statistics that nearly 20,000 women will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2025, with close to 5,000 deaths. Fara emphasizes the dangers of delayed diagnosis in women due to symptom overlap with common conditions, and she outlines the three key diagnostic tools—urine cytology, imaging, and cystoscopy—that can save lives when used early. Listeners will learn why vigilance in primary care, proactive referrals, and patient advocacy are crucial to ensuring timely and accurate diagnoses. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust. It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended