As with all cancers, a bladder cancer diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming for both patients and their caregivers. Compared to other cancer types, however, patient experience of bladder cancer care is especially poor. Depending on the cancer type and stage, discomfort from procedures and psychological stress can diminish quality of life in terms of fatigue, physical functions, and mental health.
Beyond treatment, side effects such as urinary incontinence, waking during the night to urinate, changes to sexual function, and altered body image, all contribute to psychological stress. Additionally, a bladder cancer diagnosis can affect a person’s quality of life because it requires life-long care such as stoma care, catheterization, or ensuring access to bathrooms.
Large studies using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) report that Black, female, uninsured, or Medicaid patients with any stage of bladder cancer are less likely than other patient populations to receive cancer-directed therapies. The cause of these disparities includes many factors such as referral delays, insurance authorization delays, patient preference, socioeconomic status, and limited access to high-volume treatment centers.
ACCC is providing resources for providers to recognize and address these barriers to guideline-concordant care.
Bladder Cancer Risk Factors
The most common risk factors for bladder cancer include smoking, workplace exposure, use of certain medications or herbal supplements, and the presence of arsenic in the drinking water. Bladder birth defects, urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney/bladder stones, long-term bladder catheters, and chronic bladder irritation have also been linked to bladder cancer (particularly squamous cell carcinoma).
Interactive eCourse
Implementing Shared Decision-Making in Bladder Cancer Care
ACCC’s Implementing Shared Decision-Making in Bladder Cancer Care e-Course supports quality person-centered care by educating the multidisciplinary bladder cancer care team on health literacy and health equity best practices and shared decision-making conversations. Through this brief online course, oncology professionals can better address the existing barriers to quality bladder cancer care for underserved populations and improve care coordination for improved health outcomes.
Cancer programs and academic centers can implement quality improvement steps to optimize the delivery of guideline-based treatment for vulnerable patients with bladder cancer and, in doing so, prevent disparities in treatment delivery and outcomes.
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FAQs
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer can often be cured. For muscle-invasive bladder cancer, prognosis also depends on whether carcinoma in situ is also present.
What are the odds of surviving bladder cancer? ›
The 5-year relative survival rate of people with bladder cancer that has not spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder wall is 96%. Almost half of people are diagnosed with this stage. If the tumor is invasive but has not yet spread outside the bladder, the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%.
What is the biggest symptom of bladder cancer? ›
The most common symptom is blood in the urine, called hematuria. It's often slightly rusty to bright red in color. You may see blood in your urine at one point, then not see it again for a while. Sometimes there are very small amounts of blood in the urine that can only be found by having a test done.
What is the red flag for bladder cancer? ›
Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Around 80 out of 100 people with bladder cancer (around 80%) have some blood in their urine. Doctors call blood in the urine haematuria (pronounced heem-at-you-ree-ah).
Does bladder cancer ever go into remission? ›
Bladder cancer can often be cured, or brought into remission, especially if treated early. However, bladder cancer tends to reappear. Overall, the chances of your cancer being cured depend on your type of cancer and how far it has spread.
Can you live a normal life after bladder cancer? ›
It's common for survivors to worry about their cancer returning, and it takes time for life to feel "normal" again. Managing life after bladder cancer isn't easy, but it's possible.
Do you feel ill with bladder cancer? ›
If your bladder cancer has spread you might: have bone, back or tummy pain. feel very tired (fatigue) feel generally unwell.
What hurts when you have bladder cancer? ›
Pain in flank, the section of the back between the ribs and the hip bone. Painful urination. Frequent urination. Urinary hesitancy, or difficulty beginning to urinate.
Where is the first place bladder cancer spreads? ›
Where can bladder cancer spread to? Not all bladder cancers will spread. But If it does it's most likely to spread to the structures close to the bladder, such as the ureters, urethra, prostate, vagin*, or into the pelvis. This is called local spread.
What color is bladder cancer urine? ›
Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include: Blood in urine (hematuria), which may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test. Frequent urination.
Blood may be present one day and absent the next, with the urine remaining clear for weeks or even months. But if a person has bladder cancer, at some point the blood reappears. Usually, the early stages of bladder cancer (when it's small and only in the bladder) cause bleeding but little or no pain or other symptoms.
What is the new test for bladder cancer? ›
Cxbladder provides greater confidence, reducing the need for further invasive procedures. Cxbladder Detect is a test designed to rule out urothelial bladder cancer in those experiencing blood in urine (hematuria).
What is the 10 year survival rate for bladder cancer? ›
Also, we found that bladder cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in American men over the age of 80 years. Previous studies have shown that the 3-year overall survival rate for bladder cancer was 70%, whereas the 10-year overall survival rate was only 42%.
Is bladder cancer a big deal? ›
Bladder cancer can be benign or malignant. Malignant bladder cancer may be life threatening, as it can spread quickly. Without treatment, it can damage tissues and organs.
Is Stage 4 bladder cancer curable? ›
If bladder cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 39.2%. If it has spread to a distant site, the 5-year survival rate is 8.3%.
