Prevent & Fight Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer occurs in the lining of the bladder. It accounts for about five percent of all new cancer cases in the U.S. The most common sign of a bladder tumor is blood in your urine. The earlier it’s diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. 

Dignity Health offers quality care for bladder cancer in the Bay Area. To learn more about symptoms, testing, or treatment, use our online search tool to Find a Doctor.

Bladder Cancer Survival Rate

According to the American Cancer Society, the survival rates for bladder cancer are: 

• 77 percent if you were diagnosed and first treated five years ago
• 70 percent if you were diagnosed more than 10 years ago
• 65 percent if you were diagnosed at least 15 years ago 

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

The signs and symptoms can include: 

• Blood in urine
• Weak urine stream
• Trouble urinating
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Pain or burning with urination 

Since other conditions can have the same symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis.

Bladder Cancer Risk Factors

While the cause of bladder cancer is still unknown, there are certain risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing the disease. These include: 

• Smoking — If you smoke, you are two to three times more likely to get bladder cancer than a nonsmoker
• Frequent or chronic urinary tract infections
• Exposure to chemicals in dyes, plastics, rubber, and paints 

Prevention of bladder cancer involves lowering your risk factors.

Treatment & Prevention of Bladder Cancer

Treatment options for bladder cancer depend on the stage of the disease. Your doctor may recommend bladder removal, which is usually surgery combined with chemotherapy delivered inside the bladder after the procedure. Additional treatments may include radiation and systemic (throughout your whole body) chemotherapy.

For world-class care, visit a Dignity Health oncology center near you:

• Dominican Hospital — Santa Cruz
• Saint Francis Memorial Hospital — downtown San Francisco
• Sequoia Hospital — Redwood City
• St. Mary’s Medical Center — San Francisco across from Golden Gate Park

Dignity Health hospitals in the Bay Area treat all stages of bladder cancer in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Redwood City.