Cancer of the bladder in Alberta: a urologic audit review.

A review was conducted of 660 cases of cancer of the bladder diagnosed in two periods, 1960--62 and 1968--70. A significant increase in the incidence of bladder cancer in both sexes, paralleling the trends in other parts of North America, was found. During the second period the disease was diagnosed earlier and, once diagnosed, was apparently treated more successfully. Overall 5-year survival rates increased from 57% to 70% for patients with stage O or A disease, but were relatively constant, at about 36%, for patients with stage B1 or B2 disease. The survival rate for patients with stage O or A disease appeared to improve without clearly defined changes in treatment. Prospective randomized treatment trials are needed to properly assess the value of definitive and adjunctive methods of treatment.