Types of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is classified by histological type (cell type). Treatment will depend on the type of cancer. The common types of bladder cancer are:

Transitional Cell Carcinoma / Urothelial Carcinoma: This type of cancer occurs in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. These transitional cells expand when the bladder is full and contract when the bladder empties and are also found in the urethra and the uterus. This type of cancer accounts for up to 95% of all bladder cancers.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This type of bladder cancer comprises 1% - 2% of bladder cancers. It is caused by the appearance of squamous cells in the bladder due to prolonged infection, inflammation and irritation. Over time they can turn cancerous. It is the predominant form of bladder cancer in certain parts of the Middle East and is associated with chronic infection caused by Schistosoma worm that causes snail fever. Its occurrence is rare in the U.S.
Adenocarcinoma of the Bladder: This type of cancer starts in the cells of the mucus secreting glands in the bladder. This type of bladder cancer is also rare in the U.S.

Bladder cancer is characterized by 4 stages. They are:

Stage I - Cancer that begins in the bladder's inner lining, but hasn't spread to the bladder wall.
Stage II - The cancer has spread to the bladder wall, but is still confined to the bladder.
Stage III - The cancer cells have spread to the surrounding tissue. In some cases they may have also spread to the prostate gland in men or the uterus or vagina in women.
Stage IV - The cancer cells may have spread through the body, affecting the lymph nodes, bones, liver and other organs.