Bladder Cancer Survival Rates by Age: Key Insights & Statistics (2024)

Bladder cancer develops when cells in your bladder grow out of control. There are several types of bladder cancer, the most common one being urothelial carcinoma.

Survival rates for bladder cancer are highly dependent on stage at diagnosis and vary by age. Most bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive at diagnosis (around 70%) and the majority of those patients have, in general, a good prognosis.

Survival rates for bladder cancer are generally high, although they vary by age. The five-year relative survival rate for localized bladder cancer is 67% for people age 65 and up, 79% for people age 50-64, and 84% for people under age 50 at diagnosis, according to data from the National Cancer Institute. Most patients are over 55, and the average age at diagnosis is 73.

However, if the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, bladder cancer has a relatively low survival rate, said Daniel Landau, MD, a board-certified physician in medical oncology, internal medicine, and hematology. “Only 8% of people with bladder cancer that has spread live more than five years, but we are hopeful that these new therapies will increase that number substantially.”

Here’s a deeper look into bladder cancer survival rates by age.

While this cancer type is mostly seen in adults, in rare cases, children can be diagnosed with pediatric or childhood bladder cancer.

“If you look at all pediatric cancer patients, only 0.5% or 0.4% of patients have bladder cancer,” said Arvinder Bhinder, MD, a physician specializing in hematology and oncology at OhioHealth. “Because this is such a small sample size, we do not have a concrete survival rate for pediatric bladder cancer.”

“If a younger patient does get diagnosed, it is more likely due to a familial condition like Lynch syndrome,” Dr. Landau added. Lynch syndrome is an inherited genetic condition that increases a child’s risk of developing colorectal cancer and other forms of cancer.

Children are typically diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma. Squamous cell and other forms of aggressive bladder cancer are not commonly diagnosed in children.

According to the 2013-2019 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program from the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for bladder cancer patients under 20 is 92.8%. The five-year survival rate is the percentage of patients who are alive five years after they were diagnosed with or began treatment for cancer.

Survival rates for bladder cancer vary by age and whether cancer cells have spread.

According to Dr. Bhinder, these are the overall survival rates for adults with bladder cancer:

• Cancer is in stage 0 or carcinoma in situ: 97%

• Cancer is localized (cancer cells have not spread to nearby tissue): 70%

• Cancer has spread to lymph nodes: 39-40%

• Cancer has spread to the liver or bones: 7-8%

Young adults are rarely diagnosed with bladder cancer. According to research, bladder cancer incident rates in adults ages 20 to 39 were very low, at a rate of 0.2 per 100,000 person-years. Person-years refers to the number of years for which people contribute to data.

The five-year survival rate for all stages of bladder cancer for patients 15 to 39 is 89.9%.

As you age, the risk of bladder cancer increases.

The incidence rate among people under 40 is 0.5 cases per 100,000 people, and among people 40-64 is 12 per 100,000, according to SEER.

Data published by SEER also reveals the five-year survival rate for bladder cancer patients between the ages of 40 and 64 is 82.5%.

The older you get, the higher the chance of developing bladder cancer. Most people who are diagnosed with bladder cancer are older than 55.

Older adults also tend to have a higher death rate due to urothelial carcinoma compared to younger patients.

The SEER Program reports that the five-year survival rate for all bladder cancer stages for patients 75 and older is 71.1%. By 10 years, however, the death rate was typically greater than 70% for older adults.

Please note that having pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, can affect your five-year survival rate or life expectancy with bladder cancer. “Life expectancy depends greatly on if the patient has a pre-existing condition or if the patient has advanced cancer,” Dr. Bhinder explained.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. You may have concerns about what the future looks like for you.

It’s recommended that you speak with your healthcare team and allow family and friends to be additional support during your cancer journey.

Below are some additional tips for coping with bladder cancer:

Follow a healthy, balanced diet

Adopt a diet filled with protein, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes, and fruits and vegetables.

Eat a diet high in fiber

Because bladder cancer treatment can cause digestive problems, eating a fiber-rich diet may improve your gut health.

Engage in regular exercise

Take part in gentle exercises, such as walking or yoga, to relieve stress and stay active.

Meet other cancer patients/survivors

Unfortunately, it’s common for bladder cancer to return after treatment. In addition to support from friends and family, meeting other people with bladder cancer to share experiences can help you cope as well.

Many support groups are tailored to different cancer types, including bladder cancer. Cancer support groups are meetings for people living with cancer or those with loved ones living with the disease.

Support groups provide an opportunity to meet people who are going through similar experiences. Research shows that participating in a support group can improve your quality of life and survival.

Joining a support group can:

• Make you feel better and more hopeful about your diagnosis.

• Allow you to discuss your feelings and get assistance navigating them.

• Help you deal with issues at work or school relating to your cancer diagnosis.

• Help you cope with the side effects of bladder cancer treatment.

You can join cancer support groups in three ways: in-person, online, and telephone. Choose one that works well for your schedule and comfort.

If you’re interested in a bladder cancer support group, contact your healthcare team or cancer center, or visit the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network to find support groups near you.

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