Bladder cancer symptoms and treatments (2024)

FAQs

What is the life expectancy of someone with 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%.

It typically doesn't spread very quickly. However, other types of bladder cancer, such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, spread much faster. In most cases, treatment, if started early enough, can prevent the spread of bladder cancer.

Bladder Cancer is a heterogeneous disease; the main symptom is painless hematuria. However, patients with Bladder Cancer may initially be misdiagnosed as Cystitis or infection, and cystoscopy alone may sometimes be misdiagnosed as urolithiasis or Cystitis, thereby delaying medical attention.

Early bladder cancer symptoms can be difficult to recognize, but some common symptoms include: Blood in urine, which may appear orange, pink or rarely, dark red. Change in bladder habits such as increased frequency or urgency of urination. Pain or burning sensation during urination.

Bladder cancer is 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 or locally advanced cancer.

Survival for all stages of bladder cancer

more than 50 out of every 100 (more than 50%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed. around 45 out of every 100 (around 45%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more after diagnosis.

If the cancer is just on the inner lining of the bladder (stage 0 or carcinoma in situ), the 5-year survival rate is about 98%. If the cancer is growing just beyond the inner lining into the bladder wall, but is still just in the bladder (Stage I), the 5-year survival rate is about 88%.

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.

Can bladder cancer go undetected for years? If symptoms such as blood in the urine and changes in urinary habits are ignored by an individual and/or repeatedly misdiagnosed, it's possible that bladder cancer may not be detected for months or, in some cases, even years.

Symptoms of advanced bladder cancer

Being unable to urinate. Lower back pain on one side. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Feeling tired or weak.

What does bladder cancer pee look like? ›

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.

Feeling weak or fatigued: You may feel lethargic and extremely tired a lot of the time. Bone pain: If your cancer has spread to the bone, it can cause bone pain or a bone fracture. Swollen feet: Bladder cancer that has spread (metastasized) to your lymph nodes, for instance, could cause your feet to swell.

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.

Urine cytology: In this test, a microscope is used to look for cancer cells in urine. Urine cytology does find some cancers, but it's not reliable enough to make a good screening test. Urine tests for tumor markers: Newer tests look for certain substances in urine that might be a sign of bladder cancer.

Survival rates for bladder cancer

For example, the 5-year relative survival rate for localized bladder cancer is 71%. This means that people diagnosed with localized bladder cancer are 71% as likely as someone who does not have bladder cancer to be alive 5 years after diagnosis.

Most people don't die as a result of this type of bladder cancer. When the cancerous cells spread beyond the lining, into the surrounding muscles of the bladder, it's referred to as muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This is less common, but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body and can be fatal.

Survival rates for bladder cancer are generally high, although they vary by age. The five-year relative survival rate for localized bladder cancer is 67% for people age 65 and up, 79% for people age 50-64, and 84% for people under age 50 at diagnosis, according to data from the National Cancer Institute.