Some bladder cancer patients opt for intravesical therapy, which means chemotherapy is administered directly into the bladder; others benefit from approaches like immune checkpoint inhibitors, or a combination of both. During the press conference, Sanders said he chose to have his tumor surgically removed, which is called a cystectomy.

Sanders said during a news conference on Monday that the cancer was found when he went for a precautionary annual CT scan; he has a history of blood clots in his legs. Bladder cancer is more common in men than women. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be nearly 85,000 new cases in 2025, with more than 65,000 in men.