Bladder, Upper Urinary Tract, and Urethral Cancers: Real-World Findings from NHS England.

What is it about?

The study analyzed NHS England data for patients with bladder, upper tract urothelial, and urethral cancers from 2013 to 2019. The data showed that there were 128,823 individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer, 16,018 with upper tract urothelial cancer, and 2,533 with urethral cancer. In 2019, 150,816 individuals were living with a bladder cancer diagnosis, and 56.5% of them were aged over 75 years. The study found that most patients were referred outside the 2-week wait pathway, and 12.2% presented as emergencies. The survival rates for bladder cancer varied depending on factors such as stage, grade, location, and tumor histology. The study concluded that the diagnostic pathway for bladder cancer needs improvement to increase survival rates.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because it provides valuable insights into the incidence, prevalence, and treatment patterns of bladder cancer (BC), upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC), and urethral cancers in England using NHS Digital data from 2013 to 2019. The study highlights the need for improvements in the diagnostic pathway and treatment strategies to improve overall survival rates for patients with these cancers. Key Takeaways: 1. The incidence rates of BC, UTUC, and urethral cancer were stable during the study period, with approximately 150,800 people living with a diagnosis of BC in 2019. 2. Most patients with BC and UTUC were not diagnosed through the 2-week wait (2ww) pathway, and around one in 10 patients were diagnosed at an emergency admission. 3. Treatment patterns for BC and UTUC generally followed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and European Association of Urology (EAU) guidance, but variations in treatment patterns were observed among different Cancer Alliances. 4. Women with BC had worse survival outcomes than men, and the use of radical treatment was less likely in patients with increasing age, comorbidity, female sex, and higher social deprivation. 5. The study highlights the need for improvements in the diagnostic pathway and treatment strategies to improve overall survival rates for patients with BC, UTUC, and urethral cancer.