What is metastatic bladder cancer? (2024)

FAQs

What is metastatic bladder cancer? ›

Metastatic bladder cancer means the cancer has spread from where it started in your bladder to another part of the body. It is sometimes called advanced bladder cancer. Doctors also use the terms primary and secondary cancer. A primary cancer is where a cancer starts, for example primary bladder cancer.

If bladder cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 39.2%. If it has spread to a distant site, the 5-year survival rate is 8.3%. Receiving a diagnosis of stage 4 bladder cancer can feel overwhelming. Many cancer treatments can be challenging.

Conclusion: Lymph nodes, bones, lung, liver, and peritoneum are the most common sites of metastasis from bladder cancer. Tumors in a more advanced T category and those with atypical histologic features metastasize earlier. Tumors with atypical histologic features also have a higher frequency of peritoneal metastasis.

The most common regimens for systemic, or whole-body, chemotherapy to treat bladder cancer include: Cisplatin and gemcitabine. Carboplatin (available as a generic drug) and gemcitabine. MVAC, which combines 4 drugs: methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), vinblastine (Velban), doxorubicin, and cisplatin.

For example, the five-year survival rate for metastatic lung cancer is 7%. This means that 7% of people diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer are still alive five years later. Meanwhile, the five-year survival rate of metastatic breast cancer is 28% for women and 22% for men.

Treatment for metastatic bladder cancer

When bladder cancer has spread to another part of the body, treatment is not likely to cure it. But it might control the cancer for some time and help to reduce any symptoms. Possible treatment options include: chemotherapy.

It typically doesn't spread very quickly. However, other types of bladder cancer, such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, spread much faster. In most cases, treatment, if started early enough, can prevent the spread of bladder cancer.

Muscle invasive bladder cancer

This means it has grown into a deeper (muscle) layer of the bladder, or beyond. Muscle invasive bladder cancer needs more intensive treatment than non muscle invasive bladder cancer. This is because there is a risk that it could spread to other parts of the body.

Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Around 80 out of 100 people with bladder cancer (around 80%) have some blood in their urine. Doctors call blood in the urine haematuria (pronounced heem-at-you-ree-ah). You may see the blood in your urine.

Chemotherapy into a vein is also used to treat advanced bladder cancer. Advanced means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. You may have chemotherapy on its own as your main treatment to help to shrink and control the cancer and improve your symptoms. It may help you live for longer.

What is the first line treatment for metastatic bladder cancer? ›

Chemotherapy. Currently, the standard first-line treatment options include chemotherapy regimens that contain cisplatin or carboplatin. These regimens include MVAC (rarely), dose-dense MVAC, and gemcitabine-cisplatin.

The 5-year relative survival rate of people with bladder cancer that has not spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder wall is 96%. Almost half of people are diagnosed with this stage. If the tumor is invasive but has not yet spread outside the bladder, the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%.

There are treatments for most types of metastatic cancer. Often, the goal of treating metastatic cancer is to control it by stopping or slowing its growth. Some people can live for years with metastatic cancer that is well controlled. Other treatments may improve the quality of life by relieving symptoms.

Many women with metastatic breast cancer will live only a handful of years, says Hendershott. But about one-third will live at least five years after their diagnosis. And “there are people who have been living with stage IV breast cancer for more than 15 years,” she says.

In the past, many people did not live long with metastatic cancer. Even with today's better treatments, recovery is not always possible. But doctors can often treat cancer even if they cannot cure it. A good quality of life is possible for months or even years.

Stage 4 bladder cancer survival rate

According to the American Cancer Society, for patients with locally advanced disease, where the cancer has spread to nearby tissues, the five-year relative survival rate is 39 percent.

For a person with stage 4 bladder cancer, the 5-year relative survival rate is around 5 percent . This means that the person is 5 percent as likely as someone without cancer to live for a minimum of 5 years after diagnosis.

around 75 out of every 100 (around 75%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more after diagnosis. more than 50 out of every 100 (more than 50%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed. around 45 out of every 100 (around 45%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more after diagnosis.