Although bladder cancer is highly curable, African Americans are more likely to die from the disease than other patient populations, studies show. Vigilance and access to care, particularly among Black men, is critical to prevention and treatment.
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and occurs mainly in older people, according to the American Cancer Society. About 9 out of 10 people with bladder cancer are over the age of 55. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 73.
Men are more likely to develop bladder cancer than women. The chance men will develop this cancer during their life is about 1 in 27, according to the American Cancer Society. For women, the chance is about 1 in 89.
Given these statistics, it’s particularly important for Black men over 55 to remain vigilant. The , although smoking cigars and pipes can also increase the risk of developing bladder cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Smokers are three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than nonsmokers. Roughly half of all cases of bladder cancer are attributed to smoking, the American Cancer Society also found.
Other risk factors include workplace exposure to chemicals, genetics and family history, certain medicines and herbal supplements, and not drinking enough water, according to the American Cancer Society.
Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage when the cancer is highly curable. While African Americans are less likely to get bladder cancer than other racial or ethnic groups, they are more likely to die from this form of cancer than other , according to this 2017 National Institutes of Health study.
There are reasons for the more negative outcomes for African Americans when it comes to bladder cancer, particularly for Black men. Socioeconomic factors and lack of access to treatment are often cited. As a result, a highly treatable cancer can turn deadly.
A recent study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology of 36,322 veterans (9% Black and 91% white) with bladder cancer provides an example of this. The study found that the African American veterans were more likely to have comorbidities, live in zip codes with lower median income and education levels, and have more advanced cancer.
It was clear these socioeconomic factors had an impact. “Black veterans presented with more advanced stage [bladder cancer], suggesting a delay in diagnosis,” wrote the study. “Our findings underscore the need to bridge healthcare disparities across racial groups.”
Once diagnosed, bladder cancer can also be expensive to treat, said Dr. Heather Honoré Goltz on a recent webinar for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network that focused on the Black family. “We know from research for many years that bladder cancer treatment and surveillance is incredibly expensive. It’s the most expensive cancer per patient,” said Dr. Goltz.
“However, Black men are usually not well represented in clinical trials,” says urologist Firas Abdollah, M.D.
But this could change. How? Study researchers could make an extra effort to reach out to African American communities when recruiting participants. Doctors could also be more proactive in explaining the possible benefits of participating in a clinical trial with their Black patients.
In the meantime, African Americans can take control of their health by knowing the warning signs of bladder cancer and how to reduce their risk:
Possible Warning Signs of Bladder Cancer
- Blood in your urine: Known as hematuria, blood in your urine is the first sign of bladder cancer. There may be enough blood to change the color of the urine to orange, pink, or, less often, dark red.
- Painful or frequent urination: Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as having to urinate more often than usual or pain or burning during urination.
- Being unable to urinate or pelvic or back pain: Bladder cancers that have grown large or have spread to other parts of the body can sometimes cause these other symptoms.
Again, many of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than bladder cancer, but it’s important to have them checked.
How to Reduce your Risk
- Don’t smoke: This means that cancer-causing chemicals contained in smoke won’t have a chance to collect in your bladder.
- Be careful around chemicals: If you work with or around chemicals, follow all safety rules to avoid exposure.
- Drink water and stay properly hydrated: Drinking water may dilute harmful substances in your urine and flush them out of your bladder faster.
- Eat a well-balanced diet: Eat a diverse variety of fruits and vegetables, nuts and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as lean protein; reduce fat and red meat.
- Report any symptoms: You have the best chance of surviving when bladder cancer is in its earliest stages.
Dr. Abdollah added that in one study, over 24% of patients endorsed paying more for cancer care than they can afford. “Bladder cancer can be very toxic in terms of one’s finances, one’s prospects of retiring, one’s financial future, and that of the family,” she added.
You can learn more about bladder cancer and how to get involved in a clinical trial by visiting here.
