Bladder Cancer

As with all cancers, a bladder cancer diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming for both patients and their caregivers. Compared to other cancer types, however, patient experience of bladder cancer care is especially poor. Depending on the cancer type and stage, discomfort from procedures and psychological stress can diminish quality of life in terms of fatigue, physical functions, and mental health.

Beyond treatment, side effects such as urinary incontinence, waking during the night to urinate, changes to sexual function, and altered body image, all contribute to psychological stress. Additionally, a bladder cancer diagnosis can affect a person’s quality of life because it requires life-long care such as stoma care, catheterization, or ensuring access to bathrooms.

Large studies using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) report that Black, female, uninsured, or Medicaid patients with any stage of bladder cancer are less likely than other patient populations to receive cancer-directed therapies. The cause of these disparities includes many factors such as referral delays, insurance authorization delays, patient preference, socioeconomic status, and limited access to high-volume treatment centers.

ACCC is providing resources for providers to recognize and address these barriers to guideline-concordant care.

Bladder Cancer Risk Factors

The most common risk factors for bladder cancer include smoking, workplace exposure, use of certain medications or herbal supplements, and the presence of arsenic in the drinking water. Bladder birth defects, urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney/bladder stones, long-term bladder catheters, and chronic bladder irritation have also been linked to bladder cancer (particularly squamous cell carcinoma).

Interactive eCourse

Implementing Shared Decision-Making in Bladder Cancer Care

ACCC’s Implementing Shared Decision-Making in Bladder Cancer Care e-Course supports quality person-centered care by educating the multidisciplinary bladder cancer care team on health literacy and health equity best practices and shared decision-making conversations. Through this brief online course, oncology professionals can better address the existing barriers to quality bladder cancer care for underserved populations and improve care coordination for improved health outcomes.

Cancer programs and academic centers can implement quality improvement steps to optimize the delivery of guideline-based treatment for vulnerable patients with bladder cancer and, in doing so, prevent disparities in treatment delivery and outcomes.
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