SUPPORT CANADIANS LIVING WITH CANCER
Survival statistics for bladder cancer
Cancer survival statistics are very general estimates and must be interpreted very carefully. Because survival statistics are based on the experience of groups of people in the general population, they cannot be used to predict a particular person’s chances of survival.
There are many different ways to measure and report cancer survival statistics. Your doctor can explain the statistics for bladder cancer and what they mean to you.
Net survival
Net survival represents the probability of surviving cancer in the absence of other causes of death. It is used to give an estimate of the percentage of people who will survive their cancer.
In Canada, the 5-year net survival for bladder cancer is 73%. This means that, on average, about 73% of people diagnosed with bladder cancer will survive for at least 5 years.
Relative survival
Relative survival looks at how likely people with cancer are to survive after their diagnosis compared to people in the general population who do not have cancer, but who share similar characteristics (such as age and sex).
Survival by stage
Survival varies with each stage and grade of bladder cancer. Generally, the earlier bladder cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome.
Stage | 5-year relative survival |
---|---|
0 | 95% |
1 | 85% |
2 | 55% |
3 | 38% |
4 | 16% |
Questions about survival
Talk to your doctor about your prognosis. A prognosis depends on many factors, including:
- your health history
- the type of cancer
- the stage
- certain characteristics of the cancer
- the treatments chosen
- how the cancer responds to treatment
Only a doctor familiar with these factors can put all of this information together with survival statistics to arrive at a prognosis.
Taking action against all cancers

The latest Canadian Cancer Statistics report found that of all newly diagnosed cancers in 2017, half are expected to be lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. Learn what you can do to reduce the burden of cancer.