Metastatic (stage 4) bladder cancer

The bladder cancer's stage describes how far the cancer has grown and whether it has spread. Bladder cancer stages go from 0 to 4. A metastatic bladder cancer is a stage 4 bladder cancer. Stage 4 also includes locally advanced bladder cancers that haven't spread.

Stage 4A bladder cancer

• A locally advanced cancer that has grown through the bladder and into the abdominal wall or pelvic wall. The walls are layers of muscle and other tissues around the belly and pelvis.
• A metastatic cancer that has spread to distant lymph nodes.

Stage 4B bladder cancer

• A metastatic cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body other than the lymph nodes. This may include the bones, brain, liver or lungs.

How the stage affects treatment

Treatments may be different for stage 4 bladder cancer depending on whether the cancer is metastatic or not.

• If the cancer is advanced, but not metastatic, treatment usually starts with medicines. How well the medicines work helps the healthcare team decide which treatments should come next. Sometimes the medicines make it possible to have surgery or radiation therapy to treat the cancer in the bladder. Using surgery and radiation in this way is sometimes called consolidation therapy.
• If the cancer is metastatic, treatment usually starts with medicines. Surgery to remove the cancer in the bladder usually isn't used for metastatic cancer.

Your treatment options may depend on your cancer and your overall health. Talk with your care team about your stage and the extent of your cancer. Your care team can explain how this affects your treatment options.