Bladder Cancer Survival Rate and Prognosis

What is the survival rate of bladder cancer?

Physicians assess the outlook for bladder cancer by analyzing long-term statistical data compiled from individuals diagnosed with a type of disease, including bladder cancer. A key metric frequently employed to gauge prognosis is the five-year relative survival rate.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) periodically reports on the five-year survival rate for bladder cancer. The most recent period studied was from 2013 to 2019, and it reported that the average survival rate of bladder cancer is 78%. This means that from the time of diagnosis, 78 out of 100 people diagnosed with bladder cancer were alive in five years.  From 1995-1997 (the prior period reported by ACS), the five-year survival rate was 80% and from 1975 – 1977, it was 72%. The survival rates are not the same for everyone, however. 

What impacts the bladder cancer survival rate?

Survival rates depend on many factors, including the type and stage of bladder cancer that is diagnosed. According to the ACS, the five-year survival rate of people with bladder cancer that has not spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder wall is 96%. This is called non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).  More than half of people are diagnosed at this stage.

If a tumor is invasive but has not yet spread outside the bladder, the five-year survival rate is 71%. Approximately 33% of bladder cancers are diagnosed at this stage. If the cancer extends through the bladder to the surrounding tissue or has spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs, the five-year survival rate is 39%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is 8%. About 4% of people are diagnosed at this stage.

It is important to remember that statistics about the five-year survival rates for people with bladder cancer are estimates only and come from annual data based on the number of people with this cancer.  A number of new and promising bladder cancer treatments that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the last five years might not be reflected in a five-year survival rate statistic.

Just like no single treatment is appropriate for all bladder cancer patients, there is not one statistic that applies to everyone either.  Talk with your doctor about your situation to gain the best understanding you can.

When researchers present the results of their clinical trials, they often use survival curves to show the benefit of one treatment over another. During a recent Understanding Advanced/Metastatic Bladder Cancer webinar, Dr. Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH, of Dana Farber Cancer Institute has a simple explanation of those charts that you might see on a website or read in a medical journal or article.

Bladder cancer prognosis

The forecast for bladder cancer progression, or prognosis, is determined by several key factors.

The stage of the cancer is a primary determinant of prognosis. This classification depends on whether the cancer is confined to the bladder’s surface (non-muscle invasive) or has penetrated the bladder’s muscle wall or beyond (muscle invasive). The nature of the bladder cancer, its grade as either low or high, as well as the patient’s overall health and age, also influence the expected outcome.

In cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, factors such as the number and size of tumors, invasion into nearby connective tissue, and recurrence after treatment are considered to further refine the prognosis.

On the other hand, for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, the prognosis is also dependent on whether there is simultaneous presence of carcinoma in situ. This condition represents a more severe challenge, with outcomes heavily reliant on the cancer’s spread and other complicating elements.

Survival rate for women with bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is more common in men than women, with men being three to four times more likely to get it, depending on how advanced the cancer is. But, women who have bladder cancer are more likely to have worse outcomes than men. This difference in who survives bladder cancer is pretty unusual because it’s one of the few types of cancer where women have a worse chance of survival than men.

From a bladder cancer survivor, Jill:

“I would also advise people, especially when they get a prognosis that involves a 50/50 chance of surviving, do not focus on the 50% chance that you might die.  Try really hard not to go to a negative place in your mind – it makes everything else so much harder.“ Read Jill’s story.

Understanding Survival Curves with Dr. Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH

When researchers present the results of their clinical trials, they often use survival curves to show the benefit of one treatment over another. During a recent Understanding Advanced/Metastatic Bladder Cancer webinar, Dr. Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH, of Dana Farber Cancer Institute has a simple explanation of those charts that you might see on a website or read in a medical journal or article.

Looking for support?

Our Survivor 2 Survivor (S2S) program connects newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients and caregivers with survivors and co-survivors who have gone through similar experiences.  This program matches callers with trained volunteers who offer a sympathetic ear and share their own experiences as well as insight about bladder cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

Click here to learn more about the Survivor to Survivor program.

Want to learn more?

We offer our free handbook all about bladder cancer called “Bladder Cancer Basics.”

BCAN’s updated Bladder Cancer Basics handbooks for patients and caregivers are available, free of charge. These electronic and print publications offer a variety of information about the disease including the types of tests used to diagnose bladder cancer, what it means to “stage” and “grade” the disease, an overview of the types of treatments prescribed, including recently approved immunotherapies, as well as resources for the proactive patient. The caregiver guide offers information about the unique challenges faced by bladder cancer caregivers.