Disparities in bladder cancer

Among men, bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy and ninth leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. In contrast, it is the 11th most common malignancy and 12th leading cause of death from cancer among women. The successful management of bladder cancer largely depends on its timely diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, barriers disproportionately delay detection and treatment for individuals with social, economic, and community disadvantages. This imbalance creates health disparities (i.e., differences in health outcomes that are closely linked to these disadvantages), which negatively affect vulnerable populations, such as racial and ethnic minority groups, those from lower socioeconomic classes, and the uninsured. To obtain a better understanding of this issue, we review the current state of bladder cancer disparities research.