HJR388 Summary

• Recognizes July 2012 as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month in Alabama.

• Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States, with approximately 70,000 new cases diagnosed annually and nearly 14,000 deaths per year.

• Men have a one-in-27 lifetime chance and women have a one-in-86 lifetime chance of being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

• Women often experience delayed diagnosis because bladder cancer symptoms are mistaken for common gynecological problems, and bladder cancer occurs annually in more women than cervical cancer.

• Bladder cancer has a nearly 80 percent recurrence rate, making it one of the most expensive cancers to treat, with most cases occurring in people over age 55.