Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men in Italy. According to the most recent data, 30,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2023, including 24,000 in men and 6,000 in women. The prevalence of the disease, or the number of people living with the diagnosis and being treated, already exceeds 313,000 people in the country.

Despite these numbers, bladder cancer is still underestimated in public perception. As pointed out by experts in the Italian press, it is a neoplasm that predominantly affects men over the age of 60, but it does not receive the same media attention as other cancers, despite being clinically complex and recurrent.

According to the National Press Review on Bladder Cancer (April 14, 2023), this neoplasm is still underestimated by the public. It predominantly affects men over the age of 60 and, despite its high incidence and clinical complexity, receives less media attention than other cancers.

In addition to the low media visibility, it is important to consider the risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this disease. The most prominent is smoking, which alone is associated with about 50 percent of cases. Other factors include:

Over the past decade (2012-2022), there has been a gradual 12% increase in the number of new cases of urinary tract cancers, reaching 29,200 diagnoses by 2022. These cancers often have no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Signs such as the presence of blood in the urine (hematuria) tend to appear when the disease is already at a more advanced stage, a time when treatment options may be more limited.

Therefore, early diagnosis really makes a difference. The survival rate in cases diagnosed at an early stage is significantly higher, which underscores the importance of preventive examinations and regular monitoring, especially among groups considered to be at higher risk.

Urinary cytology is a noninvasive test that analyzes cells in urine for changes indicative of tumors of the urinary tract, particularly the bladder. It is an effective method for detecting suspicious lesions before the onset of clinical symptoms, when the chances of cure are still high.

With Urine24, the examination can be performed with accuracy, comfort, and safety:

1. Home collection kit: the patient receives a complete kit with detailed instructions and dedicated technical support.
2. Protected storage and safe shipment: specimens are stabilized and sent to the Hospitex laboratory, which specializes in precision cytology analysis.
3. State-of-the-art cytology analysis: state-of-the-art technology and reports written by experienced pathologists, with double review according to The Paris System criteria.
4. Quick, secure and confidential report: the laboratory transmits the result via e-mail in accordance with the highest standards of security and confidentiality.

Early detection of urinary tract cancer allows treatment to begin before disease progression, significantly increasing the likelihood of cure and improving the patient's quality of life. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, early detection strategies are effective in reducing cancer mortality and contribute to more efficient management of public health resources. - Source: WHO - Early Diagnosis of Cancer, 2025

Patients with an early diagnosis of bladder cancer have a much higher survival rate than those who discover the disease at an advanced stage. Therefore, it is crucial to invest in preventive examinations, such as urinary cytology, to protect one's health.