New U.S. Survey of Military Service Members and Veterans with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Reveals 53% Were Diagnosed at Age 50 or Younger and Barriers to Care
- In national survey of military service members and veterans with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (“respondents” throughout) conducted by The Harris Poll, 53% were diagnosed by age 50, and 28% were diagnosed by age 40
- Among respondents who had not undergone a full removal of their bladder (cystectomy), 93% strongly or somewhat agreed they would try anything to avoid full bladder removal
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Nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents reported barriers or challenges to receiving treatment, including long waits (35%), difficulty coordinating
Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA care (27%), and challenges accessing treatment recommended by their healthcare provider (HCP) (49%) -
Despite these barriers, respondents expressed strong confidence in their care teams, with 90% reporting trust in their providers and 85% believing they were receiving the best possible care through the
VA , while 64% saw their NMIBC provider at aVA hospital or clinic -
Bladder cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among
U.S . military veterans, with approximately 3,200 veterans diagnosed each year1
Respondents reported a mean age of 51.7 years at diagnosis (median, 49 years); 28% were diagnosed by age 40 and 53% by age 50. The mean age at first symptoms was 48.8 years, a difference of about three years from the mean age at diagnosis. Respondents also reported exposure to potential environmental risk factors, including burn pits (31%) and contaminated water (54%). More than seven in 10 wanted additional resources to help veterans navigate NMIBC care.
Bladder cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among
“A cancer diagnosis can be difficult to navigate, and these findings show that understanding the diagnosis does not always mean patients feel equally prepared to weigh treatment options or make decisions,” said
Barriers to Care: Delays and Limited Availability Complicate Treatment
The most common barriers or challenges to treatment were long waits for appointments or treatment (35%) and difficulty coordinating care between
Information and Support: Veterans Want More Guidance and Options
Around three in five (61%) wished they had received additional information about NMIBC treatment options after diagnosis, and 46% wished they had been presented more treatment options. Seventy-six percent wished there were more resources specifically designed to help veterans navigate NMIBC treatment, and 65% wished veterans like them had access to more bladder cancer treatment options. Fifteen percent agreed they did not feel they were receiving the best possible treatments for their NMIBC.
Confidence and Knowledge: Few Feel Very Confident Navigating Treatment Choices
While 57% were very confident in understanding their diagnosis, 39% were very confident in understanding the available treatment options for their cancer type and stage, and 40% were very confident in making treatment decisions with their healthcare providers. Although 50% felt very knowledgeable about bladder cancer in general, 32% felt very knowledgeable about available procedures and treatments, and 14% felt very knowledgeable about clinical trial opportunities. The gap between confidence in the care team and reported access barriers points to a need for clearer information about treatment options and care navigation.
“The survey findings demonstrate many issues we have observed in our experience from frequently seeing veterans with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer,” said
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online within
About Bladder Cancer in
Bladder cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer among
To learn more about current pending legislation and advocacy efforts to improve access to care and treatment, increase research funding, and raise awareness of the long-term health challenges facing veterans and active duty service members, visit the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) at BCAN.org and the
About ImmunityBio
ImmunityBio, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on innovating, developing, and commercializing next-generation immunotherapies designed to activate the patient’s immune system and deliver durable protection against cancer and infectious diseases. Our approach harnesses both the adaptive and innate immune systems with the goal of restoring immune function and generating lasting immunological memory in patients. At the core of our strategy is the Cancer BioShield™ platform, which is designed to stimulate critical lymphocytes, including natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T cells, and memory T cells via our proprietary IL-15 receptor agonist, ANKTIVA® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln). Our Cancer BioShield platform is anchored by this antibody-cytokine fusion protein and is complemented by a portfolio that includes adenovirus-vectored vaccines, allogeneic (off-the-shelf) and autologous NK-cell therapies, and additional immunomodulators intended to promote immunogenic cell death and support durable immune responses while potentially reducing reliance on high-dose chemo-radiation therapy. For more information, visit ImmunityBio.com and connect with us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
References:
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Bladder Cancer and Veterans: What You Need to Know. May 11, 2022. Last visited 11/26. Avaiable at https://news.va.gov/103200/bladder-cancer-and-veterans-what-you-need-to-know/#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DApproximately%203%2C200%20Veterans%20are%20diagnosed%2Cinner%20layer%20of%20the%20bladder.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential implications of the survey findings for patient education, treatment navigation, shared decision-making and support resources for military service members and veterans with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC); the need for additional research, new BCG sources and treatment options; and the continued development and potential applications of the Company’s Cancer BioShield™ platform, including ANKTIVA®.
These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, assumptions and beliefs as of the date of this press release and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, developments, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: limitations inherent in survey research, including the small sample size, unweighted data, self-reported nature of survey responses and the fact that the results are representative only of the individuals surveyed; the possibility that the survey findings may not be replicated or may not translate into changes in clinical practice, healthcare policy, reimbursement, treatment access or patient outcomes; the timing and results of ongoing and future clinical studies and the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals; manufacturing and supply constraints, including BCG availability; competition from other therapies and treatment approaches; market acceptance and reimbursement; and general economic and market conditions.
More details about these and other risks that may impact ImmunityBio’s business are described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 23, 2026, the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 9, 2026, and in subsequent filings made by ImmunityBio with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. ImmunityBio cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ImmunityBio does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement or other information in this press release, except to the extent required by law.
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