Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

It’s a special month for us here at Orange County CyberKnife: May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, and this cause is vitally important. While industry-leading cancer treatments like CyberKnife can help provide a better chance than ever at beating cancer, the best way to fight cancer is still through education, prevention, and early detection. And that all starts with raising awareness.

Bladder Cancer Statistics

Bladder cancer affects more than 80,000 new patients each year, and 4 out of 5 are men – in fact, bladder cancer is the eighth most common form of cancer for men. Bladder cancer is much more common in older adults, with the median age of diagnosis being 73. Overall, the 5-year survival rate for bladder cancer is 77%, but that number varies depending on the type and stage of cancer. For patients whose cancer has not yet spread past the inner wall of the bladder, the survival rate is 96%, and roughly 50% of patients are diagnosed at this stage. However, if the tumor has spread through the bladder wall and into surrounding lymph nodes or organs, the 5-year survival rate drops to 35%. This illustrates the importance of early detection and treatment.

Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer

As with most forms of cancer, scientists still don’t fully understand the direct causes of bladder cancer. However, research has uncovered a number of risk factors, which increase the likelihood that someone will get bladder cancer in their lifetime. The risk factors for bladder cancer include:

• Tobacco: Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is the most common risk factor for bladder cancer. Smokers are roughly 4-7 times as likely to develop bladder cancer.
• Age: Bladder cancer is more common in adults over 55.
• Gender: Men are 3-4 times as likely to develop bladder cancer as women.
• Race/Ethnicity: White people have roughly double the chances of getting bladder cancer as black people.
• Chemicals: Exposure to certain chemicals used some industries can increase the risk of bladder cancer.

Having one or more risk factors doesn’t guarantee you’ll get bladder cancer, but it does increase the chances and it may mean you should get extra preventive screenings for bladder cancer. Talk your doctor about your risk factors to determine the steps you should to protect yourself from bladder cancer.

Schedule a Consultation with Your Orange County Radiation Therapy Clinic

Getting diagnosed with bladder cancer can be devastating, but by raising awareness and taking preventive measures, we can all contribute to the fight against cancer. If you or someone you love is diagnosed with bladder cancer, Orange County CyberKnife can help. Contact us today to learn more about our noninvasive cancer treatments or to schedule a consultation at our Orange County cancer clinic. We look forward to hearing from you, and we wish you a happy, safe Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.