×

Bladder Cancer - Stages and Types of Bladder Cancer

Home> Bladder cancer> Overview and Types

What is Bladder Cancer?

The urinary bladder is a part of the urinary system. It is a muscular, hollow organ that stores the urine produced by the kidneys. Several types of cells are present in the bladder. These include urothelial cells, squamous cells, and epithelial cells. Abnormal growth and division in one or more of these bladder cells result in tumor formation, and this condition is known as bladder cancer or bladder tumor. A bladder tumor most commonly occurs in the cells present in the internal lining of the bladder. In most cases, this cancer type is diagnosed in the early stages, and therefore, the treatment outcomes are usually good.

How Common is Bladder Cancer?

Men have a higher chance of developing urinary bladder cancer than women. It has been reported that the lifetime chances in men for developing bladder tumors are 1 in 28, while in women, it is 1 in 91. Bladder carcinoma ranks sixth in the list of most common cancers in men and seventeenth in the list of most common cancers in women.

Book an Appointment

What are the Most Common Types of Bladder Cancer?

The common types of bladder cancer are:

Urothelial carcinoma

Urothelial bladder carcinoma was previously called transitional carcinoma. It is the most common form of bladder cancer and accounts for 90% of all bladder carcinomas. It initiates in the urothelial cells. These cells form the internal lining of the urinary bladder. Urothelial cells are also present at other sites of the urinary tract, such as urethra and ureters. People with urothelial cancer may have tumors at these sites, and therefore, doctors usually examine the complete urinary tract in patients.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cells are flat, thin cells present on the lining of the bladder. Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder includes about 5% of all bladder carcinomas. People with chronic inflammation or bladder irritation have a higher risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Squamous cell carcinoma is more prevalent in geographic areas where parasite-associated bladder infections (schistosomiasis) are common.

Small cell carcinoma

This is a rare type of bladder carcinoma, and it forms in the neuroendocrine cells. They account for less than 2% of all bladder carcinomas. This cancer generally grows rapidly and should be promptly treated with chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the bladder is a rare cancer that accounts for 1 to 2% of all bladder carcinomas. Adenocarcinoma develops in the mucus-secreting glandular cells of the urinary bladder. Patients with chronic inflammation or irritation of the urinary bladder have a higher risk of developing adenocarcinoma.

Sarcoma

Sarcoma in the bladder initiates in the muscular wall of the bladder. It is a rare cancer of the urinary bladder.

Other Categories of Bladder Cancer

Non-invasive

It includes carcinoma in situ and non-invasive papillary carcinoma. Non-invasive papillary carcinoma does not grow into deeper layers, and it can be easily removed. Carcinoma in situ grows only on or near the bladder surface.

Non-muscle-invasive

Non-muscle-invasive bladder lesion does not grow into the muscle but affects the lamina propria.

Muscle-invasive

Muscle-invasive bladder lesions grow into the muscles and sometimes spread to fatty tissues.

What are the Stages of Bladder Cancer?

The urinary bladder cancer staging is as follows:

Stage 0 Bladder cancer

It is divided into two stages - stage 0a and stage 0is. Stage 0a is noninvasive papillary carcinoma. It may be low-grade or high-grade, depending on the characteristics of the cancer cells under the microscope. Stage 0is is carcinoma in situ, and in most cases, it is a high-grade tumor characterized by a flat tumor on the inner lining of the bladder.

Stage 1 Bladder Cancer

In stage 1 bladder cancer, the cancer invades the connective tissue below the inner lining of the urinary bladder. The cancer has not spread to the muscle wall of the bladder. Further, the cancer has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes or distant organs.

Stage 2 Bladder Cancer

In stage 2 bladder cancer, the cancer spreads through the connective tissue and invades the muscular wall. However, it has not completely invaded the muscle layer to reach the fatty tissue present below it. Further, the cancer has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes or distant organs.

Stage 3 Bladder Cancer

Stage 3 bladder cancer is divided into stages 3a and 3b. In stage 3a of bladder carcinoma, the cancer has completely invaded the muscle layer and reached the fatty layer surrounding the bladder. The cancer may also have spread to the prostate and seminal vesicles in men or to the vagina and uterus in women. However, it has not reached the abdominal wall, lymph nodes, or distant organs. In stage 3b bladder carcinoma, the cancer has invaded the lining, muscular wall, connective tissue, and fatty tissues and spread to >2 lymph nodes.

Stage 4 Bladder Cancer

Stage 4 bladder cancer is divided into two sub-stages. Stage 4a bladder carcinoma has invaded the abdominal wall and the pelvis. However, it may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes. It may not have spread to distant organs. Stage 4b bladder carcinoma may or may not have invaded the nearby abdominal cavity organs and lymph nodes. It has spread to one or more distant organs, such as the lungs, bones, and liver.


Conclusion

Bladder cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the urinary bladder. The different types of bladder cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Stage 0 and stage 1 bladder cancers are categorized as early-stage or initial-stage cancers, and stage 4 bladder cancer is referred to as advanced-stage cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some interesting facts about bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer generally occurs in the elderly. Men are four times more at risk than women. Women are often diagnosed with advanced-stage bladder carcinomas.

Smoking has the greatest impact on bladder cancer. This is because cigarette smoke contains several cancer-causing substances that can enter the bloodstream, hamper kidney functioning, and damage the bladder lining. Therefore, it is important to refrain from smoking.

Bladder cancer is often touted as a silent killer. This is because bladder carcinoma does not show any signs or symptoms until it progresses to advanced stages.

Several people live for many years after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. However, the survival period depends on several factors, such as the stage of diagnosis, the overall health of patients, and the response to treatment.

Yes, it is possible to live a normal life after bladder cancer treatment. The survivors should prioritize consuming a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and undergoing regular checkups.

People who smoke have a three-fold higher risk of developing bladder cancer. Refraining from smoking can help reduce the risk of bladder cancer significantly.