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Creating transparency

around the inequities of bladder cancer care

Gender, race, and socioeconomic status can lead to disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and survival of patients with bladder cancer

Gender: disparities in care begin at diagnosis

Men are 3-4 times more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than women. Yet women with bladder cancer1:

  • Are diagnosed with more advanced disease at presentation2
  • Have worse outcomes at all stages of the disease2
  • Lose more years of life (6.5 vs 3.9 years for men)2
  • Face additional risks and trauma during radical cystectomy surgeries that require the removal of reproductive organs to achieve the best oncologic outcomes3,4

Race: disparities exist throughout the bladder cancer journey

African American patients are less likely to receive any part of a diagnostic evaluation for bladder cancer and tend to have a higher grade and stage of disease at the time of presentation5

Race is also associated with rates of treatment and worse survival rates6

Lower socioeconomic status: higher disease prevalence and worse outcomes

Lower socioeconomic status/education level can be linked to:

  • Increased diagnosis of high-risk disease7
  • Decreased 5-year survival8
  • Decreased overall survival8
  • Higher relative risk of death8

CG Oncology believes in pursuing a clinical program that supports equity and quality of care for all patients living with bladder cancer

Explore more bladder cancer information and resources

Resources

To learn more about the CG Oncology clinical program, contact Medical Affairs at medicalaffairs@cgoncology.com

The information on this site is intended for audiences in the United States only. The content on this site may not apply to non-U.S. audiences as regulatory control, legal requirements, and/or medical practices may vary in other countries.

The content on this website is for your information. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

REFERENCES:

1. National Cancer Institute SEER Program. Cancer Stat Facts: Bladder Cancer. Accessed November 27, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2024/2024-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf

2. Dobruch J, Daneshmand S, Fisch M, et al. Gender and bladder cancer: a collaborative review of etiology, biology, and outcomes. Eur Urol. 2016;69(2):300-310.

3. Richter LA, Egan J, Alagha EC, Handa VL. Vaginal complications after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: a systematic review. Urology. 2021;156:e20-e29.

4. Choi H, Park JY, Bae JH, Tae BS. Health-related quality of life after radical cystectomy. Transl Androl Urol. 2020;9(6):2997-3006.

5. Ark JT, Alvarez JR, Koyama T, et al. Variation in the diagnostic evaluation among persons with hematuria: influence of gender, race and risk factors for bladder cancer. J Urol. 2017;198(5):1033–1038.

6. Wang Y, Chang Q, Li Y. Racial differences in urinary bladder cancer in the United States. Sci Rep. 2018;8:12521.

7. Weiner AB, Keeter MK, Manjunath A, Meeks JJ. Discrepancies in staging, treatment, and delays to treatment may explain disparities in bladder cancer outcomes: an update from the National Cancer Data Base (2004-2013). Urol Oncol. 2018;36(5):237.e9-237.e17.

8. Russell B, Häggström C, Holmberg L, et al. Systematic review of the association between socioeconomic status and bladder cancer survival with hospital type, comorbidities, and treatment delay as mediators. BJUI Compass. 2021;2(3):140-158.