Bladder Cancer
While urinary bladder cancer incidence is significantly higher in Whites than in African Americans, the mortality rates are nearly the same, due in large part to the later stage at diagnosis among African Americans. Rates for Hispanics, Asians or Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives are lower than those for Whites or African Americans. Overall incidence has stayed the same or risen slightly since the 1980s, but mortality dropped through the 1980s, resulting in increased survival. Men have greater incidence and mortality rates than women in all ethnic groups.
It is estimated that approximately $2.9 billion* is spent in the United States each year on the treatment of bladder cancer.
*In 2004 dollars, as reported in Brown ML, Riley GF, Schussler N, and Etzioni RD. Estimating health care costs related to cancer treatment from SEER-Medicare data. Medical Care 2002 Aug; 40 (8 Suppl): IV-104-17.
Source for incidence and mortality data: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and the National Center for Health Statistics.
