Stage 4 bladder cancer is a metastatic form of cancer that has spread from the bladder to other parts of the body, making it difficult to treat with targeted therapies. The most likely sites for the cancer to spread are the lymph nodes, rectum, prostate, vagina, uterus, or ureters. Once the disease has spread, it reduces the likelihood of remission and lowers the number of treatment options available, resulting in a low survival rate. Widespread chemotherapy is a common treatment, but stage 4 bladder cancer is widely considered terminal.
Stage 4 bladder cancer is a metastatic or widespread form of cancer. In this type of cancer, the abnormal cell growth that characterizes all tumors forms a tumor that originates in the transitional cells lining the bladder itself. In stage 4, cancer cells have spread from the bladder to other parts of the body.
Typically, cancer progression is staged as measured by the overall growth and spread of the disease. Stage 4 is the final stage of bladder cancer. In this stage, the abnormal cells infiltrate distant sites in the body, such as other organs and lymph nodes, causing cancers elsewhere in the body. Stage 4 cancers are usually considered systemic, meaning they are no longer confined to a localized area and are now affecting the body as a whole.
The most likely sites for stage 4 bladder cancer to spread are, in no particular order, the lymph nodes surrounding the bladder; the rectum; the prostate; the vagina; the uterus; or the ureters. In some cases, the tumors can spread to less typical areas or to areas further away from the bladder. The abnormal cells travel using the lymphatic system, which is a key part of the immune system with outposts throughout the body. Less commonly, then, stage 4 bladder cancer can attack lymph nodes in the pelvis, lungs, liver, or bones.
Once the disease spreads, it strives to create tumors in other areas of the body. This drastically reduces the likelihood of forcing the cancer into remission and also reduces the number of treatment options available. The combination of disease progression and regression in the options available to deal with stage 4 bladder cancer results in a low survival rate for those affected by the condition.
Stage 4 bladder cancer cannot be treated effectively with targeted therapies such as bladder removal, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Once the disease has made its way into multiple areas of the body, the only treatment approach is one that affects the patient as a whole. An example of this is widespread chemotherapy, which can be a difficult treatment protocol for patients to tolerate.
Even though a widespread treatment plan is practical, stage 4 bladder cancer is widely considered terminal. If the cancer has spread only to surrounding lymph nodes, between 10 and 15 percent of people will survive more than five years. If the cancer has spread to the liver, bones or lungs, the average survival time is between 12 and 18 months. Concrete survival rates are difficult to estimate because each case is unique. Better results are also possible for people receiving care in places where clinical trials are conducted.
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