Bladder Cancer Key Statistics

Bladder cancer is common but often treatable when caught early; about 84,500 new U.S. cases and 17,800 deaths are expected in 2026, and overall 5-year relative survival is around 78–79%, dropping sharply with advanced stage. Most cases occur in older adults, especially men and current or former smokers, and these statistics can help frame when a missed or delayed diagnosis may have legal significance in a malpractice case.

On this page, we explain the latest data from the American Cancer Society, and what it could mean for your delayed Bladder Cancer Diagnosis Case.

Bladder cancer at a glance

Key stats at a glance

• New U.S. cases per year (2026 estimate): About 84,530
• Deaths per year (2026 estimate): About 17,870
• Overall 5-year relative survival (all stages combined): About 78–79%
• Most cases are diagnosed at an early, localized or regional stage, where survival is significantly higher than for metastatic disease
• Lifetime risk of developing bladder cancer: about 1 in 28 for men and 1 in 91 for women
• Lifetime risk of dying from bladder cancer: about 1 in 125 for men and 1 in 333 for women

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Core U.S. statistics at a glance

New cases per year

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates about 84,530 new bladder cancer cases in the United States in 2026 (about 64,730 in men and 19,800 in women). SEER data show an age-adjusted incidence rate of roughly 18 new cases per 100,000 men and women per year, accounting for about 4.2% of all new cancers.

Deaths per year

ACS projects about 17,870 U.S. deaths from bladder cancer in 2026 (about 12,640 in men and 5,230 in women). SEER currently reports a bladder cancer death rate of about 4.1 per 100,000 per year, representing roughly 2–3% of all cancer deaths.

Lifetime risk

ACS indicates the average lifetime risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer is about 1 in 28 for men and about 1 in 91 for women. The estimated chance of dying from bladder cancer is lower than the risk of diagnosis: roughly 1 in 125 for men and 1 in 333 for women.

Survival rates by stage

Five-year survival rate by stage

SEER "summary stages" (localized, regional, distant) give practical survival benchmarks:

• All stages combined: about 78–79% 5-year relative survival
• Localized (confined to bladder): roughly low-70% 5-year relative survival (commonly reported about 71–72%)
• Regional (spread to nearby tissues/lymph nodes): around the upper-30% range (often cited near 39%)
• Distant / metastatic: approximately single-digit 5-year survival, commonly around 8%

These are population estimates and do not predict outcomes for any particular person.

Why stage at diagnosis changes outcomes

When bladder cancer is found while it is non-muscle-invasive or localized to the bladder, surgery and intravesical therapies can often control the disease, supporting substantially higher long-term survival. Once the tumor invades muscle, regional structures, or distant organs, cure is less likely and treatment typically requires radical surgery, systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted agents, which correlates with lower survival and higher morbidity.

Who is most at risk

Age and sex distribution

Bladder cancer mainly affects older adults; SEER data show that incidence and death rates rise steeply after age 55, and the highest proportion of deaths occurs among those aged 75–84 and older. Men are about 3–4 times more likely than women to develop bladder cancer; ACS estimates roughly 64,730 new cases in men vs. 19,800 in women in 2026.

Smoking and other risk factors

Cigarette smoking is the leading, and often described as the #1, risk factor for bladder cancer, roughly tripling risk and accounting for an estimated half or more of cases. Other established risk factors include:

• Occupational exposure to aromatic amines and certain industrial chemicals (dyes, rubber, leather, printing, some paint industries)
• Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water in some regions
• Prior pelvic radiation or certain chemotherapy drugs (e.g., cyclophosphamide)
• Chronic bladder irritation/infections (e.g., long-term catheters, some parasitic infections), and certain genetic or familial predispositions

These are general population risk factors; for any individual patient, multiple factors may interact.

What these statistics mean for delayed diagnosis cases

The large gap between survival for localized disease (roughly low-70% 5-year survival) and distant disease (around 8%) underscores why the timing of diagnosis can materially influence prognosis and treatment intensity. From a malpractice-analysis perspective, these data help experts assess whether an alleged delay likely allowed progression from a stage with substantially higher expected survival or less aggressive treatment to a stage with markedly worse survival or more burdensome therapy, which is central to causation and "loss of chance" arguments.

When in doubt, talk to our experienced NY Cancer attorneys to know more about your legal options, and the potential next steps you can take to secure compensation.

Incidence, deaths, and survival by stage

U.S. bladder cancer statistics for 2026:

5-year relative survival by SEER stage:

FAQ

What are the statistics for bladder cancer?

In 2026, ACS projects about 84,530 new bladder cancer cases and about 17,870 deaths in the United States. Overall 5-year relative survival is roughly 78–79%, with better outcomes for localized disease and much poorer outcomes once the cancer is metastatic.

What is the #1 cause of bladder cancer?

Cigarette smoking is widely identified as the single most important, and often the #1, cause of bladder cancer, responsible for a substantial proportion of cases and roughly tripling risk compared with never-smokers. Certain workplace chemical exposures, prior radiation or chemotherapy, and chronic bladder inflammation are additional major contributors but collectively account for fewer cases than smoking.

Who is most prone to bladder cancer?

People at highest risk are typically older adults (especially over age 55), with incidence and mortality peaking in the 75–84 and older age groups. Men, particularly current or former smokers and those with relevant occupational exposures, have the greatest risk, with men's lifetime risk (about 1 in 28) several times that of women.

What is the 5-year survival rate for bladder cancer and how does it vary by stage?

Across all stages combined, the 5-year relative survival rate is about 78–79%. Survival is substantially higher for localized disease (around low-70% range) than for regional (~upper-30% range) and distant disease (~single-digit, around 8%), illustrating the strong impact of stage at diagnosis.

How many people die from bladder cancer each year?

For 2026, ACS estimates about 17,870 deaths from bladder cancer in the United States (around 12,640 in men and 5,230 in women). SEER data indicate a death rate of roughly 4.1 per 100,000 people annually, with most deaths occurring in older age groups.

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Contact a New York Cancer Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered from a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis for your bladder cancer, contact the Porter Law Group at 833-PORTER9, or e-mail us at info@porterlawteam.com to discuss the details of our experience representing other clients and the results we were able to obtain in the past for clients who are suffering as you are. In many ways, our results speak for themselves, and we will stand ready to help you and your family in your time of greatest need.