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Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Estimated New Cases in 2018 81,190

% of All New Cancer Cases 4.7%

Estimated Deaths in 2018 17,240

% of All Cancer Deaths 2.8%

Percent Surviving
5 Years

76.8% 2008-2014
Year New Cases - SEER 9 New Cases - SEER 13 Deaths - U.S. Percent Surviving 5 Years - SEER 9
Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend
1975 19.32 19.38 - - 5.50 5.52 71.91% 72.84%
1976 19.69 19.51 - - 5.59 5.53 72.88% 73.32%
1977 18.99 19.65 - - 5.52 5.54 73.19% 73.79%
1978 19.99 19.79 - - 5.44 5.42 74.99% 74.25%
1979 19.98 19.92 - - 5.25 5.30 73.67% 74.71%
1980 20.42 20.06 - - 5.17 5.19 74.13% 75.15%
1981 20.69 20.20 - - 5.07 5.07 78.68% 75.60%
1982 20.08 20.34 - - 4.99 4.96 75.74% 76.03%
1983 20.04 20.49 - - 4.88 4.85 76.64% 76.46%
1984 20.85 20.63 - - 4.74 4.74 76.87% 76.89%
1985 20.67 20.77 - - 4.67 4.64 76.35% 77.30%
1986 21.02 20.92 - - 4.53 4.54 77.84% 77.71%
1987 21.65 20.96 - - 4.41 4.44 79.26% 78.12%
1988 20.85 21.00 - - 4.41 4.43 79.01% 78.51%
1989 21.03 21.03 - - 4.48 4.43 79.62% 78.90%
1990 21.08 21.07 - - 4.49 4.43 79.99% 79.29%
1991 20.92 21.11 - - 4.42 4.43 79.29% 79.67%
1992 21.25 21.15 20.72 20.41 4.46 4.42 79.11% 80.04%
1993 21.26 21.19 20.68 20.43 4.47 4.42 79.84% 80.41%
1994 20.81 21.23 20.20 20.45 4.47 4.42 80.36% 80.77%
1995 20.64 21.27 20.15 20.48 4.35 4.42 81.26% 80.65%
1996 20.83 21.30 20.16 20.50 4.41 4.42 79.85% 80.52%
1997 21.11 21.34 20.48 20.53 4.39 4.41 78.78% 80.40%
1998 21.63 21.38 20.62 20.55 4.38 4.41 79.52% 80.27%
1999 21.78 21.42 20.68 20.57 4.36 4.41 78.42% 80.15%
2000 21.86 21.46 20.74 20.60 4.32 4.41 80.60% 80.02%
2001 21.80 21.50 20.76 20.62 4.35 4.41 81.83% 79.89%
2002 21.28 21.54 20.32 20.65 4.43 4.40 80.33% 79.76%
2003 21.61 21.58 20.91 20.67 4.30 4.40 80.12% 79.63%
2004 21.56 21.62 20.95 20.70 4.42 4.40 80.39% 79.50%
2005 22.00 21.66 20.84 20.72 4.42 4.40 80.40% 79.37%
2006 21.40 21.70 20.38 20.75 4.41 4.40 81.03% 79.24%
2007 21.93 21.74 20.90 20.77 4.44 4.39 79.27% 79.11%
2008 21.42 21.49 20.26 20.47 4.41 4.39 77.89% 78.98%
2009 20.95 21.25 19.89 20.17 4.37 4.39 78.32% 78.84%
2010 21.39 21.01 20.37 19.87 4.43 4.39 77.57% 78.71%
2011 20.42 20.77 19.38 19.58 4.42 4.39 - 78.58%
2012 20.77 20.54 19.54 19.30 4.38 4.38 - 78.44%
2013 20.10 20.31 18.87 19.02 4.43 4.38 - 78.30%
2014 20.32 20.08 18.82 18.74 4.34 4.38 - 78.17%
2015 19.75 19.85 18.37 18.47 4.36 4.38 - 78.03%

Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.

Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of bladder cancer was 19.5 per 100,000 men and women per year. The number of deaths was 4.4 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2011-2015 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 2.3 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with bladder cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2013-2015 data.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2015, there were an estimated 708,444 people living with bladder cancer in the United States.

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Men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with bladder cancer.
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Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Bladder Cancer?

Relative survival statistics compare the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer with the survival of people in the general population who are the same age, race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

76.8%

Percent Surviving
5 Years

76.8%

Based on data from SEER 18 2008-2014. Gray figures represent those who have died from bladder cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

Additional Information

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier bladder cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For bladder cancer, 34.4% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year survival for localized bladder cancer is 69.4%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Bladder Cancer
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
In Situ
Only in Originating Layer of Cells		 51% 95.4%
Localized
Confined to Primary Site		 34% 69.4%
Regional
Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes		 7% 34.9%
Distant
Cancer has Metastasized		 4% 4.8%
Unknown
Unstaged		 3% 46.0%

SEER 18 2008-2014, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Summary Stage 2000

Additional Information

Number of New Cases and Deaths

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, bladder cancer is fairly common.

Rank Common Types of Cancer Estimated New
Cases 2018		 Estimated
Deaths 2018
1. Breast Cancer (Female) 266,120 40,920
2. Lung and Bronchus Cancer 234,030 154,050
3. Prostate Cancer 164,690 29,430
4. Colorectal Cancer 140,250 50,630
5. Melanoma of the Skin 91,270 9,320
6. Bladder Cancer 81,190 17,240
7. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 74,680 19,910
8. Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer 65,340 14,970
9. Uterine Cancer 63,230 11,350
10. Leukemia 60,300 24,370

Bladder cancer represents 4.7% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

4.7%

In 2018, it is estimated that there will be 81,190 new cases of bladder cancer and an estimated 17,240 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

Bladder cancer becomes more common with age and is more common in men than women. The number of new cases of bladder cancer was 19.5 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2011-2015 cases.

Number of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Bladder Cancer
Males
All Races 34.3
White 37.6
Black 20.6
Asian/Pacific Islander 15.0
American Indian/Alaska Native 14.7
Hispanic 18.9
Non-Hispanic 36.4
Females
All Races 8.3
White 8.9
Black 6.7
Asian/Pacific Islander 3.9
American Indian/Alaska Native 4.5
Hispanic 4.8
Non-Hispanic 8.8

SEER 18 2011-2015, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Bladder Cancer
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<20 0.1%
20-34 0.4%
35-44 1.3%
45-54 6.1%
55-64 18.3%
65-74 29.8%
75-84 28.8%
>84 15.1%

Bladder cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65-74.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

72

SEER 18 2011-2015, All Races, Both Sexes

Who Dies From This Cancer?

Bladder cancer is the ninth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The number of deaths was 4.4 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2011-2015 deaths.

Number of Deaths per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Bladder Cancer
Males
All Races 7.6
White 8.0
Black 5.3
Asian/Pacific Islander 2.9
American Indian/Alaska Native 3.6
Hispanic 3.9
Non-Hispanic 7.9
Females
All Races 2.2
White 2.2
Black 2.4
Asian/Pacific Islander 0.9
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.4
Hispanic 1.3
Non-Hispanic 2.2

U.S. 2011-2015, Age-Adjusted

Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Bladder Cancer
Age Range Percent of Deaths
<20 0.0%
20-34 0.1%
35-44 0.5%
45-54 3.4%
55-64 11.6%
65-74 21.9%
75-84 32.2%
>84 30.4%

The percent of bladder cancer deaths is highest among people aged 75-84.

Median Age
At Death

79

U.S. 2011-2015, All Races, Both Sexes

Trends in Rates

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, rates for new bladder cancer cases have been falling on average 1.0% each year over the last 10 years. Death rates have been rising on average 0.0% each year over 2006-2015. 5-year survival trends are shown below.

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival
View Data Table

More About This Cancer

Cancer and the Bladder

Illustration of urinary systems.
Figure: Anatomy of the male urinary system (left)
and female urinary system (right)
Click to enlarge.
Figure: Anatomy of the male urinary system (left)
and female urinary system (right)

Figure: Anatomy of the male urinary system (left) and female urinary system (right) showing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower part of the abdomen. It is shaped like a small balloon and has a muscular wall that allows it to get larger or smaller. The urine passes from the two kidneys into the bladder through two tubes called ureters. The bladder is emptied through another tube called the urethra.

There are three types of bladder cancer that begin in cells in the lining of the bladder: transitional cell carcinoma:; squamous cell carcinoma; and adenocarcinoma.

Cancer that is confined to the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer. Cancer that begins in the transitional cells may spread through the lining of the bladder and invade the muscle wall of the bladder or spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes; this is called invasive bladder cancer.

Additional Information

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about bladder cancer.

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within:

Noone AM, Howlader N, Krapcho M, Miller D, Brest A, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2015, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2015/, based on November 2017 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2018.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Bladder Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/urinb.html

These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.

The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. In some cases, different year spans may be used. Estimates for the current year are based on past data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.