Bladder cancer is the 10th most common type of cancer diagnosis in Louisiana, with around 1,000 new cases each year. About 90% of bladder cancers develop within the urothelial cells that make up the lining of the bladder (urothelial carcinoma). Â
In the early stages, the cancer stays within the lining of the bladder. As the tumor gets larger, it can grow into the layer of muscle that surrounds the bladder. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer occurs in about 25% of cases. While most cases of bladder cancer are highly treatable, this type of cancer is the most likely to recur. Â
Early diagnosis and frequent follow-ups with your doctor are essential to help ensure the best possible outcomes.
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Talk with your doctor to see if a bladder cancer screening is right for you. Â
Bladder cancer is typically diagnosed in adults aged 65 and over. Men are four times more likely than women to develop bladder cancer. Women have a lower risk but tend to get their diagnosis when the cancer is at a more advanced stage. While race is not a risk factor for bladder cancer, the survival rate is lower among Black patients.Â
Smoking contributes to about half of bladder cancer cases. Bladder cancer is three times more common in smokers compared to non-smokers. People who smoke often have a higher risk of recurrence, and they are three times more likely to die from cancer when compared to non-smokers. Â
Exposure to harmful chemicals is the second leading cause of bladder cancer. Examples of these toxic materials include formaldehyde, arsenic, solvents, mineral oils, and certain types of dyes. You might be at risk if you work in manufacturing textiles, paint, plastics, or rubber products.Â
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is home to one of the largest bladder-sparing programs in the U.S. Patients with muscle-invasive bladder center receive innovative, multidisciplinary care with the goal of avoiding bladder removal. This patient-centric approach, led by board-certified urologic oncologist Scott E. Delacroix Jr., M.D., prioritizes quality of life without compromising treatment outcomes.Â
Clinical trials are research studies that involve human beings in order to test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose or treat diseases. A drug must be part of a clinical trial before the FDA will approve it to be put on the market. Oncology clinical trials are conducted in order to test new drugs or a new combination of drug treatments, new surgery and radiation therapies and new medical devices. Every cancer center patient is evaluated for participation in a clinical trial. Those who meet the criteria to participate in clinical research receive a standard of care treatment, but with the added benefit of a trial that may enhance their outcomes. 
If interested in volunteering to participate in a clinical research trial, or if you have concerns about the conduct of clinical research, please contact the Clinical Research office at (225) 215-1353, or by email at clinicalresearch@marybird.com.Â