Survey Calls for New Options for Bladder Cancer Care

A new global survey of patients and urologists highlights the significant physical, emotional, and social burden associated with standard bladder cancer treatments, including BCG therapy and bladder removal surgery. More than 90% of patients reported negative impacts across multiple aspects of life, underscoring growing concern about quality-of-life outcomes in oncology care. Physicians and patients alike are calling for more innovative treatment approaches.

A global survey released ahead of the American Urological Association Annual Meeting found that patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer report significant physical, emotional, and social impacts associated with current standard-of-care treatments. The findings also point to growing interest among physicians and patients in treatment innovation that may reduce disruption to daily life while improving outcomes.

The study, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Johnson & Johnson in collaboration with bladder cancer advocacy and professional organizations, surveyed 817 patients and 802 urologists across the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and France. Results showed that over 90% of patients who underwent bladder removal surgery or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy reported negative effects on several aspects of their lives.

“Too often, the true impact of bladder cancer is carried quietly by patients,” says Alex Filicevas, Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition. “This survey makes clear that the burden of current treatments for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer extends far beyond the clinic.”

Patient Experience Emerges as Central Issue

The findings add to a broader discussion taking place across the healthcare sector regarding patient-centered care, quality-of-life metrics and the role of technology in oncology treatment. While innovation in cancer care continues to accelerate, healthcare leaders increasingly argue that outcomes cannot be measured solely through clinical indicators.

Jorge Azpiri, Director of Development and Expansion Projects, TecSalud, writes that healthcare remains fundamentally a service industry despite advances in robotics, AI, and machine learning. He argues that hospitals depend heavily on human interaction, particularly in nursing care and patient support, areas that directly shape the patient experience.

Nearly all patients who underwent radical cystectomy reported negative impacts on their physical, mental, and emotional health. More than nine in 10 also reported effects on daily activities, body image, and self-esteem.

Among patients treated with BCG, 80% reported a loss of control over their body, while 69% reported loss of dignity or sense of self. Three-quarters described managing treatment-related physical symptoms as humiliating.

The survey also found that 94% of patients missed major life moments due to treatment. More than one-third said they avoided leaving their homes, attending public spaces, or socializing with family and friends. Nearly half identified depression and anxiety as major contributors to missed or avoided activities.

At the same time, 86% reported constant concern that their cancer could return or worsen, while 74% said they concealed the emotional burden of their condition from others.

Healthcare providers acknowledged similar challenges. More than three-quarters of surveyed urologists said they wished they had more time to discuss the mental and emotional effects of bladder cancer with patients. Meanwhile, 90% said better tools were needed to address those impacts.

Precision Medicine Expands Treatment Options

The findings arrive as oncology continues shifting toward personalized medicine and targeted therapies designed to improve both efficacy and tolerability. Advances in tumor molecular profiling and biomarker-driven treatments are increasingly reshaping cancer care strategies worldwide.

The bladder cancer survey suggests patients and physicians are similarly aligned in seeking new treatment approaches. A majority of both groups expressed interest in therapies beyond those commonly used today, particularly treatments capable of reducing disruption to patients’ daily lives.

“For those living with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, the decision to remove the bladder is a difficult crossroad,” says Ashish Kamat, Founding President, International Bladder Cancer Group. Kamat says that nearly 40% of urologists surveyed who had recommended bladder removal surgery later expressed regret about the recommendation, which he said reflected limitations in current treatment options rather than clinical judgment.

“These findings reinforce the importance of shared decision-making, realistic expectation-setting, and continued innovation to give patients more options that align with their goals and quality of life,” says Kamat.

Healthcare Systems Face Pressure to Balance Innovation and Care

The growing emphasis on quality of life, emotional support and individualized care comes as healthcare systems face mounting pressure to integrate advanced technologies while managing rising patient demand and workforce strain.

Azpiri argues that while hospitals can invest in equipment and infrastructure, long-term differentiation increasingly depends on organizational culture and staff engagement rather than physical assets alone. That perspective aligns with broader shifts in oncology toward patient-centered treatment frameworks. In Mexico and across Latin America, expanding access to molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies remains uneven, creating disparities in access to advanced care.

Wider adoption of tumor molecular profiling and precision oncology tools will require regulatory adaptation, reimbursement reforms, and incorporation into national treatment guidelines. Luis Alberto Vélez, CEO and Founder, Theranomics, says that countries that fail to integrate these approaches risk falling behind in next-generation cancer care.

The survey results indicate that innovation alone may not fully resolve patient concerns unless paired with stronger emotional support systems and improved communication between providers and patients.

Meri-Margaret Deoudes, CEO, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, says patients require more comprehensive support throughout treatment. “Patients need more than treatment — they need care that recognizes the full impact of bladder cancer on their lives,” she says. “We must continue advancing more innovative treatment options and stronger support systems so that people facing this disease have real choices, better todays, and more tomorrows.”