A survey by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, carried out in partnership with the Instituto Oncoguia, found that 81% of people aged 60 and older in Brazil are unaware of bladder cancer or have only heard of it, even though men and older people are among the groups most affected by the disease.
The study was released on Wednesday, September 2, and also raised concerns about how well people recognize the disease's symptoms. Among men in the 60-plus age group alone, 32% said they did not know how to identify the warning signs.
Bladder cancer develops when malignant cells form in the tissue of the bladder, the organ that stores urine produced by the kidneys before it is passed out of the body. According to Brazil's National Cancer Institute (INCA), an estimated 13,110 new cases are expected each year between 2026 and 2028, including 9,040 among men and 4,070 among women annually.
Luciana Zapata, a clinical oncologist and medical manager of oncology at Pfizer Brazil, said that because the disease is more common among people aged 60 and older, reaching that population with quality information presents a real challenge. She said doing so could help people recognize warning signs and support earlier diagnosis.
Warning signs go unrecognized
The survey also asked participants about warning signs. Among respondents aged 25 to 34, 70% identified blood in the urine as a possible sign of the disease. That figure dropped to 55% among those aged 60 and older.
Zapata said bladder cancer tends to show signs from its earliest stages, and that anyone who notices blood in their urine, even just once and without pain, should seek medical evaluation. She said the earlier a tumor is identified, the greater the chances of appropriate treatment and better outcomes for the patient.
Other warning signs include pain or a burning sensation while urinating, more frequent urination, and a feeling of not fully emptying the bladder. In these cases, doctors recommend seeking medical attention to investigate the cause.
Confusion over risk factors
About 58% of those surveyed identified family history of the disease as the main risk factor for bladder cancer, while 57% linked it to chronic urinary infections.
Despite this, the two leading causes of the disease are tobacco smoking and exposure to certain chemical substances. Only 37% of respondents knew that smoking is linked to the development of the tumor, and awareness was even lower when it came to chemical exposure, with just 24% making that connection.
Luciana Holtz, founder and president of the Instituto Oncoguia, said the entire bladder cancer journey is often accompanied by fear and insecurity. She said quality information and support can make that experience less painful and difficult, and stressed that no persistent symptom should be ignored.
The Instituto Oncoguia is a Brazilian nonprofit organization focused on patient support and awareness around cancer care.
How the survey was conducted
The research was carried out between July 21 and August 2 among people aged 18 and older in São Paulo, the metropolitan regions of Rio de Janeiro, Belém, Recife and Porto Alegre, and the Federal District. The estimated margin of error is 3 percentage points, plus or minus, with a 95% confidence level.
Reducing the risk
Health experts recommend not smoking, or quitting as soon as possible. According to Brazil's Ministry of Health, quitting smoking cuts the risk of bladder cancer in half within a few years of stopping, compared with people who continue to smoke.
It is also important to limit direct contact with chemical substances used in dyes, the rubber industry, aluminum production and painting activities, as well as products containing arsenic, benzene, tar, diesel engine exhaust and X-ray radiation.
