According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), bladder cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. It is the fourth most common cancer in males, but it is less common in females.
The NCI estimates that in 2022, there were
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that around
This article looks at the prevalence of bladder cancer, survival rates, outlook, and more.
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According to the
There were around 17,100 deaths from bladder cancer in the U.S. in 2022. About 12,120 of these were men, and 4,980 were women.
In 2022, bladder cancer accounted for around 2.8% of all cancer deaths.
The ACS states that, in recent years, the rates of new bladder cancer cases and deaths have been dropping slightly in women.
New cases have also been decreasing in men, but bladder cancer deaths in men have remained stable.
Researchers are not entirely sure why bladder cancer is more common in males than females. The difference is present even when they take into account behavioral risk factors for cancer, such as smoking, according to a 2016 review.
This implies that the disparity could be due to biological factors that make males more vulnerable to bladder cancer, rather than an increase in exposure risk.
However, women are likely to experience delays in diagnosis and tend to have more advanced cancer at the time of diagnosis.
The 5-year relative survival rate for bladder cancer is around
A 5-year relative survival rate of 77.1% means that people with bladder cancer are, on average, about 77.1% as likely as those without bladder cancer to live for at least 5 years after their diagnosis.
However, the statistics differ slightly depending on the type of bladder cancer and the stage at diagnosis, among other factors.
The ACS provides these stage-specific survival rates for bladder cancer between the years
Stage | Stage description | 5-year relative survival rate |
---|---|---|
In situ | Abnormal cells are present in one area of the bladder. They have not spread to nearby tissue. | 96% |
Localized | Cancer has not spread outside of the bladder. | 70% |
Regional | Cancer has spread from the bladder to nearby lymph nodes or other structures. | 38% |
Distant | Cancer has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs, bones, or liver. | 6% |
Researchers base these estimates on a large number of bladder cancer cases, but they do not necessarily reflect an individual’s outlook for bladder cancer.
Many factors can influence a person’s survival rate for bladder cancer, such as their overall health and age. A doctor can provide more specific information about an individual’s outlook.
Learn moreLearn more about bladder cancer.
The most important risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking. People who smoke are about
Additionally, bladder cancer mainly occurs in older adults. Around
In the U.S., white people are more likely to receive a bladder cancer diagnosis than African Americans or Hispanic Americans. Researchers are not sure why this is the case.
Other risk factors
- having a family history of bladder cancer, which may be due to genetic mutations
- having high exposure to some workplace chemicals, such as chemicals in dye or paint
- taking certain types of chemotherapy medications
- having a history of cancer anywhere in the urinary tract
- having chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Overall, men have a
This section answers some frequently asked questions about bladder cancer and its statistics.
Is bladder cancer very common?
In the U.S., bladder cancer was around the
Among males, it is the
What is the number one cause of bladder cancer?
Smoking causes around
Exposure to certain carcinogens in the workplace may also increase a person’s risk of developing bladder cancer.
The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry associates the following substances and occupations with bladder cancer:
- aluminum production
- rubber industry
- leather industry
- 4-aminobiphenyl
- benzidine
Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S., according to the NCI.
The NCI estimated it as the sixth most common cancer in 2022, with around
It is more common in men than women. Men have a roughly 1 in 27 chance of developing bladder cancer during their lifetime, and women have a 1 in 89 chance.
People who smoke are at least