Bladder Cancer

The bladder is located in the pelvis. It collects and stores urine and has a muscular wall that allows it to contract and expand. The American Cancer Society estimates that 83,190 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2024 and 16,840 people will die of the disease.

Cancer limited to the lining of the bladder is called non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This type of cancer is sometimes called superficial bladder cancer. More than 75% of bladder cancer is diagnosed as a NMIBC and it has an excellent survival rate. Muscle invasive bladder cancer penetrates the layers of muscles in the bladder and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body but is often still quite curable. Bladder cancer is four times more common in men than in women. It is two times more common in Caucasian men than African American men.