Survival for bladder cancer (2024)

Survival depends on many factors. No one can tell you exactly how long you willlive.

Below are general statistics based on large groups of people. Remember, they can’t tell you what will happen in your individual case.

Your doctor can give you more information about your own outlook (prognosis). You can also talk about this with the Cancer Research UK information nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

About these statistics

The terms 1 year survival and 5 year survival don't mean that you will only live for 1 or 5 years.

The NHS, other health organisations, and researchers collect information. They watch what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.

5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis.

Survival by stage of bladder cancer

There are no UK-wide statistics available for bladder cancer survival by stage.

Survival statistics are available for each stage of bladder cancer inEngland. These figures are for men and women diagnosed between 2013 and 2017.

Stage 1

Around 80 out of 100 people (around 80%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.

Stage 1 means that the cancer has started to grow into the connective tissue beneath the bladder lining.

Stage 2

Around 45out of 100 people (around 45%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

Stage 2 means thatthe cancer has grown through the connective tissue layer into the muscle of the bladder wall.

Stage 3

Around 40 out of 100 people (around 40%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.

Stage 3means thatthe cancer has grown through the muscle into the fat layer. It may have spread outside the bladder to the prostate, womb or vagin*.

Stage 4

The statistics for stage 4 bladder cancer survival don’t take into account the age of the people with bladder cancer. Statistics that do take into account the age (age-standardised statistics) are not available.

Around 10out of 100 people(around 10%) will survive their cancerfor 5yearsor more after they are diagnosed.

Stage 4 means thatthe cancer has spread to the wall of the abdomen or pelvis, the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. If bladder cancer does spread to another part of the body, it is most likely to go to the bones, lungs or liver.

Where this information comes from

Survival for all stages of bladder cancer

    Generally, for people diagnosed with bladder cancer in England:

    • around 75 out of every 100 (around 75%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after diagnosis
    • 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

    Where this information comes from

    What affects survival

    Your outlook (prognosis) depends on whether you have:

    • non muscle invasive bladder cancer -the cancer is only in the lining or the connective tissue beneath the bladder lining
    • muscle invasive bladder cancer -the cancer has grown into a deeper (muscle)layer of the bladder, or beyond

    Non muscle invasive bladder cancer

    Most bladder cancers are diagnosed when they are still only in the bladder lining. These are called non muscle invasive bladder cancers. The prognosis for non muscle invasive bladder cancers depends on several factors, including:​​

    • exactly how far the cancer cells have gone into the bladder lining
    • the number of tumours
    • how wide the tumours are
    • how abnormal the cancer cells look under the microscope (thegrade)
    • whether CIS (high grade changes in the bladder lining) is present
    • whether this a recurrence and how often a tumour has recurred

    Your doctor looks at all these factors. They use them to decide whether there is a low, medium (intermediate) or high risk of the cancer coming back or spreading into the muscle of the bladder. Your doctor will be able to tell you about your risk group and how this affects your outlook.

    Muscle invasive bladder cancer

    For muscle invasive bladder cancer, your outlook depends on the stage of your cancer. This means how far it has spread through the muscle wall, and whether it has spread into lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.

    The type of bladder cancer might also affect your outlook.

    • Learn about the stages, types and grades of bladder cancer

    Clinical trials

    Taking part in clinical trials can help to improve the outlook for people with bladder cancer.

    • Read about or join a clinical trial

    More statistics

    You can read more statistics on survival rates and other factors for bladder cancer in our Cancer Statistics section.

    • Find out more bladder cancer statistics
    Survival for bladder cancer (2024)

    FAQs

    How survivable is 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%.

    Can you fully recover from bladder cancer? ›

    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.

    How long can I live after being diagnosed with bladder cancer? ›

    around 75 out of every 100 (around 75%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after diagnosis. 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.

    Has anyone survived stage 4 bladder cancer? ›

    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%. Receiving a diagnosis of stage 4 bladder cancer can feel overwhelming.

    What causes death with bladder cancer? ›

    But researchers also noted that people with bladder cancer had a higher risk of dying from secondary cancers, heart diseases, and COPD than the people who never had bladder cancer. It should be noted that heart disease and COPD are both smoking-related diseases, as is bladder cancer.

    Can you survive bladder cancer without treatment? ›

    Despite older age or other comorbidities, patients with untreated MIBC will typically die of progressive bladder cancer. This information will allow us to properly counsel patients and their families to set realistic expectations during what may be their final year of life.

    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.

    How fast does bladder cancer spread? ›

    Bladder cancer spreads at different speeds depending on the type of bladder cancer you have. Urothelial bladder cancer is slow to spread, while other types are much faster. Urothelial bladder cancer is the most common type of bladder cancer. It typically doesn't spread very quickly.

    What are the signs that bladder cancer is getting worse? ›

    If bladder cancer reaches an advanced stage and begins to spread, symptoms can include:
    • pelvic pain.
    • bone pain.
    • unintentional weight loss.
    • swelling of the legs.
    Nov 13, 2023

    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.

    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.

    What is life like after bladder cancer? ›

    The operation you had, called a cystectomy, is a lifelong change. You may have to bathe differently and adjust your travel habits. It can affect your body image, and you may worry about its impact on your relationships and sex life. With enough time, you should be able to do almost everything you did before.

    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.

    How aggressive is bladder cancer? ›

    Bladder cancers are either low-grade or high-grade. Low-grade bladder cancer cells grow more slowly and are less likely to invade the bladder's muscular wall. High-grade bladder cancer cells grow aggressively and may be more likely to spread to the bladder wall and other tissues and organs.

    At what stage of bladder cancer is the bladder removed? ›

    Treatment of stages II and III bladder cancer

    The two main treatments for stage II bladder cancer and stage III bladder cancer are radical cystectomy or a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Radical cystectomy is surgery to remove the bladder and surrounding tissues and organs.

    Does bladder cancer spread quickly? ›

    Bladder cancer spreads at different speeds depending on the type of bladder cancer you have. Urothelial bladder cancer is slow to spread, while other types are much faster. Urothelial bladder cancer is the most common type of bladder cancer. It typically doesn't spread very quickly.

    What organ does bladder cancer spread to first? ›

    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.

    What is the survival rate for bladder cancer by age? ›

    The incidence rate among people under 40 is 0.5 cases per 100,000 people, and among people 40-64 is 12 per 100,000, according to SEER. Data published by SEER also reveals the five-year survival rate for bladder cancer patients between the ages of 40 and 64 is 82.5%.

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