Bladder Cancer Staging
Learn More About Bladder Cancer Stages: Chat with Us | Email Us
The process of diagnosing bladder cancer may be different for everyone, but the goal is the same: your medical team wants to gather as much information about the growth and development of the cancer so that it is better able to recommend treatments. This may begin with a few simple tests and procedures. In addition to urine tests, your doctor may perform a cystoscopy, a procedure using a small camera on the end of a flexible tube that enables the doctor to view the inside of the bladder. The tube with the camera is inserted through the urethra and, with a special tool, your doctor is able to collect cells from the lining for further analysis (biopsy).
Other imaging tests, such as a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, may help your medical team better assess the spread and extent of the cancer. It is possible that the cancer may affect more than one more region of the bladder, and this is important to know before beginning treatment. As the cancer grows, it may enter nearby organs or tissue, such as the prostate in men or, in women, the uterus or vagina. If bladder cancer spreads to other sites like the lungs, the new tumors will be made up of the bladder cancer cells. This is referred to as metastatic bladder cancer because the cancer cells originally formed in the bladder.
How Bladder Cancer Is Staged
Bladder cancer staging begins by evaluating three key components of the cancer: size, location and spread. In the earliest stage of bladder cancer (Stage 0 or Stage I), the cancer is localized to the bladder's inner lining. Later stages are characterized by the growth and spread of cancerous tissues throughout the body (Stage IV). The stages, 0-IV, are made up of a combination of the three components: T, N and M.
- Tumor - The tumors are rated on a scale 0-4 where T0 indicates no evidence of a primary tumor. The letter "a" indicates a papillary carcinoma.
- Node - If cancer is found in the lymph nodes, the quantity of cancer cells found is rated using N1 or N2. Conditions where the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes is indicated by N0.
- Metastasized - Cancer that has spread (metastasized) is indicated by M1. Otherwise, M0 is used if there are no signs of metastasis.
Each category (T, N and M) is assessed and rated. An X is used to denote insufficient information (the condition of the particular factor cannot be adequately assessed).
Bladder Cancer Stage Grouping
- Stage 0 Bladder Cancer: The cancer cells are found only on the inside lining of the bladder. This may also be called either carcinoma in situ if the tumor appears flat, or papillary carcinoma when the cancerous growths look like tiny mushrooms. (Example: Ta, N0, M0)
- Stage I Bladder Cancer: The cancer cells are situated deeper in the bladder lining as compared with Stage 0. (Example: T1, N0, M0)
- Stage II Bladder Cancer: The cancer has spread through the inner-most lining and into the bladder muscle. (Example: T2, N0, M0)
- Stage III Bladder Cancer: The cancer cells have permeated the bladder wall and may have entered nearby organs. (Example: T3 or T4a, N0, M0)
- Stage IV Bladder Cancer: In the most advanced stage, the cancer has reached the pelvic wall and may have spread to other distant organs or lymph nodes. (Example: Any T, Any N, M1)
Taking the Next Steps
The diagnosis and staging of bladder cancer may feel overwhelming, but you're not alone. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), you will have the support of a team of cancer experts and caregivers rallying around you. At CTCA, we understand that you are looking for the best way to treat bladder cancer so that you can continue on with everyday life. Your needs, goals and hopes are at the center of planning for your treatment, and staging is the first step toward finding a treatment plan that's right for you.
Chat online with a CTCA Oncology Information Specialist today or call 1-800-615-3055. Oncology Information Specialists are available 24 hours a day, every day to answer your questions about staging bladder cancer and treatment options at CTCA.
Next Topic: Bladder Cancer Treatment
