Every May, we turn our attention to bladder cancer, the lives it impacts, and the research inspiring hope for the future. Launched in 2005 by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN), Bladder Cancer Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of the most common cancers in the U.S., helping to drive early detection, life-saving research, and vital patient support. Awareness is more than a gesture; it's a call to action. The blue, yellow, and purple colors of the ribbon signify the bladder and the need for increased awareness and research. This blog explores exciting discoveries from the past year that will drive improvements in bladder cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Facts About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cause of cancer death in the United States, and the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be approximately 85,000 new cases in 20251. The five-year survival rate for bladder cancer is 78 percent2, and there will be approximately 17,000 deaths from the disease in the USA in 2025.
Bladder cancer is much less deadly if it has not spread. Five-year survival for cancer confined to the bladder is 72 percent, but when tumors have spread to distant organs, for example, the lungs or the bones, this drops to just 9 percent2. This difference highlights the importance of early detection: if we can catch bladder cancer quickly, we can stop it in its tracks.
This further emphasizes the need for bladder cancer awareness: if everyone knows the symptoms, we can spot the disease early and minimize harm. If everyone understands the risk factors, we can make proactive decisions and take positive action to prevent bladder cancer.
Bladder Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors
Early symptoms of bladder cancer are often mistaken for minor problems, so it's important to be proactive and talk to your healthcare provider if they appear. Symptoms can include3:
- Blood in the urine
- Frequent urination
- Pain during urination
- Urgent need to urinate or weak urine flow
There are some important risk factors for bladder cancer that you should be aware of:
- Smoking4
- Workplace exposures to industrial chemicals
- Certain medicines5 and herbal supplements6
- Arsenic in drinking water7
- Being male8
- Chronic bladder irritation and infections4
- Genetics and family history9
New Research on Bladder Cancer and Survival
The incidence of bladder cancer is decreasing in the USA, meaning the rate at which people are diagnosed has gone down10. This is probably due, in part, to decreases in smoking, which is a major risk factor. Similarly, bladder cancer survival rates are improving, which means that people diagnosed with the disease are more likely to live longer. This is down to improvements and breakthroughs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of bladder cancer. Here, we’ll look at some of the exciting developments in bladder cancer research and treatment in the last year that could pave the way for even better outcomes in the future.
Understanding the Causes of Bladder Cancer
Understanding how bladder cancer develops, its root causes, and risk factors can provide insights that allow for better prevention and the creation of improved treatments. New research from the past year has revealed an unexpected factor that could be contributing to the development of bladder cancer: the gut microbiome11,12. The microbiome is the collection of bacteria and other tiny microorganisms that live in the gut and usually help with digestion and fighting off disease. However, new research has shown that some of these microorganisms might be able to make harmful chemicals, like those found in cigarette smoke, more dangerous by metabolizing them, spreading them around the body, and making them more likely to cause cancer.
Improving Bladder Cancer Diagnosis
How bladder cancer is treated is dependent on accurate diagnosis. There are a number of different types of bladder cancer, and these are categorized into stages depending on how much they have spread. Precise diagnosis is, therefore, vital to make sure that patients get the most effective treatment. Quicker and easier diagnosis can also help in tackling cancer by enabling the screening of more people without symptoms, helping to catch the disease early before it has spread.
One potential new method for improving bladder cancer diagnosis is circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Tumor cells will release small strands of DNA into the blood as they grow: ctDNA. These are different from normal DNA, and often will contain specific changes, known as mutations, which can be used to identify what kind of bladder is present13. Ongoing clinical trials, including the MODERN study, organized by the National Cancer Institute, are looking to check whether ctDNA can help predict which types of anti-cancer drugs will work best14,15.
Targeting Bladder Cancer with More Precise Treatments
We know that bladder cancer is a very heterogeneous disease, meaning that there are many different types and variants. Much research focuses on understanding which treatment works best for which patients.
One very promising form of treatment is immunotherapy. Cancer can usually evade destruction by the immune system by hiding as normal cells; immunotherapy unlocks our immune cells, allowing them to target and destroy cancer cells. Drugs that target a pathway called PD-1/PD-L1, which cancer cells use to hide from T-cells in our immune system, are already in use against bladder cancer16. These drugs aren’t always effective, and research published this year has shown that targeting a molecule released by cancer cells, called GDF-15, can make bladder cancer cells more susceptible to immunotherapy drugs17.
New immunotherapies are being developed to target cancers that don’t respond well to existing drugs. Results from a large clinical trial, published last year, showed that a drug called Pembrolizumab is effective in preventing cancer from returning after the removal of the bladder, doubling the time that high-risk patients went cancer-free18. Another immunotherapy drug, Anktiva, was approved by the FDA last year for patients who do not respond to a standard therapy called BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin)19, and is now being used in patients.
A challenge in targeting bladder cancer is getting the drugs to the right place. Chemotherapy drugs can be harmful to the body, so making sure they’re only released into the bladder can help maximize their effectiveness while minimizing the damage they can do to other organs. One solution to this problem is a device called TAR-200, which looks like a long straw and is inserted into the bladder where it slowly releases a chemotherapy drug called gemcitabine. Results from a trial using TAR-200, shown at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting last spring, showed very promising response rates from patients20.
How Early Detection Is Changing the Future of Bladder Cancer
The latest research on bladder cancer highlights a clear pattern: survival is improving, but it depends on more than just treatment. Understanding risk factors, making pro-active lifestyle choices, and knowing when to seek help are essential for preventing, detecting, and effectively treating bladder cancer.
Ezra’s full-body and pelvic MRI scans offer a proactive way to monitor your internal health, detect abnormalities early, and support more personalized care before symptoms appear.
Whether it’s spotting changes linked to inflammation, helping visualize early-stage cancer, or tracking progress during treatment, Ezra makes high-quality imaging more accessible, bridging the gap between early awareness and smarter outcomes.
Survival starts with knowing. Ezra helps you see what’s happening inside, so you can take action sooner.
What You Can Do to Make a Difference
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month isn’t just about information; it’s about action. Here’s how you can make an impact today:
- Wear the Ribbon or Bracelet - Show your support with yellow, blue, and purple. It’s more than a symbol; it sparks conversations, honors fighters and survivors, and keeps awareness visible.
- Volunteer or Donate - Give your time or resources to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) or local cancer support organizations. You can join or donate to the 2025 Walk to End Bladder Cancer.
- Host or Share - Organize a community walk, host a workplace awareness event, or simply post on social media using #BladderCancerAwareness. BCAN provides useful resources you can share to help raise awareness. Your voice can inspire early detection, connection, and change.
FAQ
Q: Is bladder cancer hereditary?
A: A family history of bladder cancer can increase your chances of developing bladder cancer; however, bladder cancer is not thought to be hereditary.
Q: What is the life expectancy with bladder cancer?
A: Life expectancy for patients with bladder cancer is dependent on the type of cancer and its stage. Bladder cancer is often curable if it is caught early.
Q: How treatable is bladder cancer?
A: The treatment for bladder cancer, and how effective that treatment will be, depends on the type of cancer and its stage.
Q: Is bladder cancer aggressive?
A: Some types of bladder cancer can be aggressive. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer has grown into the muscle layers of the bladder and is often a more aggressive form.
Q: What age do people get bladder cancer?
A: The risk of bladder cancer increases with age. The majority of cases are in people over the age of 75.
Q: Can you fully recover from bladder cancer?
A: Some types of bladder cancer are curable if caught in the early stages. Regular health checks, for example , Ezra’s full-body or pelvic MRI scans, make early detection, and therefore full recovery, more likely
