The diagram lists the classifications of Bladder Cancer and what layers of the bladder the tumor has invaded.
- Stage 0a, also known as noninvasive papillary carcinoma, abnormal cells that may lead to cancer are present in only the epithelial layer of the bladder lining. Stage 0is, also know as “carcinoma in situ” or “flat tumor”, abnormal cells that may lead to cancer are present in only the epithelial layer of the bladder lining.
- Stage I, Cancer cells are confined to the bladder, but the tumor has grown through the epithelial bladder lining and into the alumina propria (part of the sub epithelial connective tissue.
- Stage II, Cancer cells are confined to the bladder, but the tumor has grown through the first two layers of the bladder lining and into the muscular propria (the muscles layer.)
- Stage III, The tumor has spread to the outermost layer of the bladder, or it has grown through the layer and may also have spread to the prostrate in men, or to the uterus and/or vagina in women. The cancer has not yet spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
- Stage IV, The tumor may be any size but may have spread to the pelvic or abdominal walls, Cancer cells have likely spread to one or more regional lymph nodes and may have spread to other parts of the body.