From the Guidelines
The overall 5-year survival rate for urinary bladder cancer is approximately 78%, with significant variations depending on the stage at diagnosis, ranging from 95% for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) stage 0 to 5% for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) stage IV. The survivability rates for urinary bladder cancer are influenced by several factors, including the stage at diagnosis, tumor grade, lymph node involvement, patient age, and overall health status 1. According to the most recent evidence, the 5-year survival rates for NMIBC stages 0 and I are approximately 95% and 75%, respectively, while the 5-year survival rates for MIBC stages II, III, and IV are 70%, 35%, and 5%, respectively 1. It is essential to note that early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes, and regular follow-up is crucial due to the high recurrence rate of bladder cancer 1. The management of bladder cancer involves a multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, intravesical therapy, systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, with the goal of improving survival rates and quality of life for patients with this disease 1. Some key points to consider in the management of bladder cancer include:
- The importance of early detection and treatment
- The use of intravesical therapy, such as BCG, for high-risk NMIBC
- The role of radical cystectomy in the treatment of MIBC
- The potential benefits of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy before cystectomy for T2 and T3 disease
- The need for regular follow-up and surveillance to monitor for recurrence and progression. Overall, the survivability rates for urinary bladder cancer can be improved with early detection, appropriate treatment, and regular follow-up, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to managing this disease.
From the Research
Survivability Rates for Urinary Bladder Cancer
The survivability rates for urinary bladder cancer vary depending on the stage and grade of the cancer.
- The 5-year survival rates for patients with superficial bladder cancer (Ta) are around 94% 2, while those with muscle-invasive cancer (T1-T3) have lower survival rates, ranging from 69% to 31% 2.
- For patients with high-grade non-invasive papillary (TaG3) bladder tumors, the 15-year progression-free survival rate is around 61%, and the disease-specific survival rate is around 74% 3.
- In cases of tumor progression from non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer to muscle-invasive bladder cancer, the survival rate after progression is around 35% 4.
- For patients with high-grade T1 bladder cancer treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, the 10-year recurrence-free survival rate is around 69.6%, and the progression-free survival rate is around 79.2% 5.
- Overall, the 5-year cancer-specific survival rate for bladder cancer is around 76%, with survival rates varying by stage: 98% for stage Ta, 90% for stage Tis, 85% for stage I, 45% for stage II, 35% for stage III, and 7% for stage IV 6.
Factors Affecting Survivability
Several factors can affect the survivability of patients with urinary bladder cancer, including:
- Stage of cancer at diagnosis: patients with earlier stages of cancer tend to have better survival rates 2, 6.
- Grade of cancer: patients with high-grade cancers tend to have poorer survival rates 2, 3.
- Age: older patients tend to have poorer survival rates 5, 6.
- Histology: the type of cancer cells present can affect survival rates 6.
- Treatment: the type and effectiveness of treatment can impact survival rates 5.