Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, affecting the lining of the urinary system. Treatments can differ based on the type of bladder cancer, depending on where the cancer tumours have grown and how far they have spread.
Types of Bladder Cancer
Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Approximately 75% of bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive (NMIBC). That means that the bladder cancer tumour is contained completely within the bladder and has not penetrated the muscle surrounding the bladder.
Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
When the cancer tumours have grown through the lining of the bladder into or through the bladder muscle, it is called muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Approximately 25% of bladder cancer cases are muscle invasive.
Metastatic Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is considered metastatic or advanced when the cancer has spread from the bladder to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and bone. Approximately 10-15% of patients are diagnosed at this stage.
Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma
While most urothelial cancers (approximately 90-95%) originate in the bladder, upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUCs) develop in the lining of the kidney, known as the renal pelvis, or in the ureter, the long, thin tube that connects that kidney to the bladder.