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If you’ve been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you’re not alone. This condition makes up roughly 5 percent of all new cancer cases each year and is the fourth most common type of cancer in men. If you’re curious about different statistics related to this disease, let Moffitt provide you with an overview.

Who gets bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is four times more common in men than women. This form of cancer is also associated with older individuals. More than 90 percent of people diagnosed with bladder cancer are over the age of 55, and the average age of diagnosis is 73.

The most common risk factor associated with this form of cancer is smoking, which is seen in about 50 percent of cases.

When is this form of cancer most often diagnosed and treated?

Bladder cancer is often diagnosed at an early stage. Roughly 50 percent of cases are diagnosed while the cancer is in situ (has not spread beyond the inner lining of the bladder wall). Only in 4 percent of cases has it spread to distant areas of the body.

In 90 percent of cases, surgery is recommended as part of the treatment plan. It may be the sole treatment or used in combination with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or immunotherapy.

The five-year survival rate is 77.3 percent for the general population. However, this number can vary quite a bit based on the stage of the bladder cancer at diagnosis. A more relevant number may come from relative survival rate, which compares an individual to a subset of the general population that matches in:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Other demographics

How can I learn more?

Moffitt Cancer Center provides comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and supportive care services for patients with all types of cancer. The multispecialty experts within our Urologic Oncology Program collaborate as a tumor board to ensure patients receive individualized treatment plans.

To discuss your bladder cancer treatment options and questions with a Moffitt physician, call 1-888-663-3488 or fill out a new patient registration form online. A referral is not required.