Quality of life in bladder cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis (2024)

FAQs

What is the quality of life with bladder cancer? ›

Discussion. In this review, the QOL among patients was estimated at 53.92 (95% CI: 47.84 to 60). We also found that physical domains of QOL were significantly affected by diagnosis or treatment procedures of the disease and were worse in terms of role limitations due to physical health and social functioning.

71% for localized bladder cancer (cancer is in the bladder only) 39% for regional bladder cancer (cancer has spread beyond the bladder to nearby lymph nodes or organs) 8% for metastatic bladder cancer (cancer has spread beyond the bladder to a distant part of the body)

BCG was the first FDA-approved immunotherapy and helps reduce the risk of bladder cancer recurrence by stimulating an immune response that targets the bacteria as well as any nearby bladder cancer cells. Approximately 70% of bladder cancer patients go into remission after BCG therapy.

Enfortumab is a type of treatment known as an antibody–drug conjugate. In both trials, people treated with the new combination treatment lived longer than those who received chemotherapy—a never-before-seen improvement over the standard initial treatments for advanced bladder cancer.

The 5-year relative survival rate of people with bladder cancer that has not spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder wall is 96%. Almost half of people are diagnosed with this stage. If the tumor is invasive but has not yet spread outside the bladder, the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%.

Bladder Inflammation

This concentration of wastes can lead to frequent and urgent urination or pelvic pain. Drinking the recommended amount of water can help prevent the buildup of minerals and help flush out toxins from the body.

Red-flag symptoms/signs

Urethral/bladder pain. Recurrent urinary tract infection. Difficulty with bladder emptying. Constant leak suspicious for a urogenital fistula.

“End-stage bladder” is a term that encompasses a bladder with little to no meaningful function and/or the potential for harm.

The outlook for people with stage 0a (non-invasive papillary) bladder cancer is very good. These cancers can almost always be cured with treatment. During long-term follow-up care, more superficial cancers are often found in the bladder or in other parts of the urinary system.

If bladder cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 39.2%. If it has spread to a distant site, the 5-year survival rate is 8.3%. Receiving a diagnosis of stage 4 bladder cancer can feel overwhelming.

What causes death with bladder cancer? ›

But researchers also noted that people with bladder cancer had a higher risk of dying from secondary cancers, heart diseases, and COPD than the people who never had bladder cancer. It should be noted that heart disease and COPD are both smoking-related diseases, as is bladder cancer.

If you have an autoimmune disorder, you may be unable to tolerate immunotherapy even if you would otherwise qualify for treatment. With an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

It can lower the risk of bladder cancer coming back in the future. Chemotherapy after surgery may help to stop the cancer coming back.

Treatment for metastatic bladder cancer

When bladder cancer has spread to another part of the body, treatment is not likely to cure it. But it might control the cancer for some time and help to reduce any symptoms. Possible treatment options include: chemotherapy.

It's common for survivors to worry about their cancer returning, and it takes time for life to feel "normal" again. Managing life after bladder cancer isn't easy, but it's possible.

Bladder cancer can be benign or malignant. Malignant bladder cancer may be life threatening, as it can spread quickly. Without treatment, it can damage tissues and organs.

Bladder cancers are either low-grade or high-grade. Low-grade bladder cancer cells grow more slowly and are less likely to invade the bladder's muscular wall. High-grade bladder cancer cells grow aggressively and may be more likely to spread to the bladder wall and other tissues and organs.

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.