Stages of bladder cancer

STAGE 0

Stage Oa

§  Ta: Non-invasive papillary carcinoma. Has grown toward the hollow center of the bladder but has not grown into the connective tissue or muscle of the bladder wall.

§  N0 - Has not spread to lymph nodes.

§  M0 – Has not spread to distant sites.

Stage Ois

§  Tis: Flat, non-invasive carcinoma; also known as flat carcinoma in situ (CIS). Invaded inner lining layer of the bladder only. Has not invaded inward toward the hollow part of the bladder or the connective tissue or muscle of the bladder wall.

§  N0 – Has not spread to lymph nodes.

§  M0 – Has not spread to distant sites.

 

STAGE I – T1, NO, MO

§  T1: Invaded layer of connective tissue under the lining layer of the bladder but has not reached the layer of muscle in the bladder wall.

§  N0 – Has not spread to lymph nodes.

§  M0 – Has not spread to distant sites.

 

STAGE II - T2a or T2b, N0, M0

§  T2: Invaded thick muscle layer of the bladder wall, but it has not passed completely through the muscle to reach the layer of fatty tissue that surrounds the bladder.

§  N0 – Has not spread to lymph nodes.

§  M0 – Has not spread to distant sites.

 

STAGE III - T3a, T3b, or T4a, N0, M0

§  T3a or T3b: Invaded layer of fatty tissue that surrounds the bladder.

§  T4a: May have spread into the prostate, uterus, or vagina, but it is not growing into the pelvic or abdominal wall.

§  N0 – Has not spread to lymph nodes.

§  M0 – Has not spread to distant sites.

 

STAGE IV

One of the following applies:

§  T4b, N0, M0: Cancer has grown through the bladder wall and into the pelvic or abdominal wall. Has not spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.

§  Any T, N1 to N3, M0: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant sites.

§  Any T, any N, M1: Cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes or to sites such as the bones, liver, or lungs.