Women with bladder cancer often experience diagnostic delays as symptoms are mistaken for urinary infections

Women with bladder cancer are frequently diagnosed later because their early signs are often confused with common urinary tract infections.

Doctors say this confusion leads many patients to receive multiple courses of antibiotics before being referred to a urologist.

Anatomical and biological differences between the sexes affect how the disease presents, contributing to the disparity.

Experts stress that earlier detection, stronger patient advocacy and the use of genetic testing could improve outcomes for women.