Bladder cancer is cancer that develops in the lining of the bladder – part of the body that stores pee (urine). The most common symptom is blood in your pee. 

Although anyone can develop bladder cancer, women are less likely to be diagnosed before the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

About bladder cancer

Bladder cancer develops after a change in the DNA of the cells in the lining of your bladder. (DNA is the genetic material that tells cells what to do.) As these faulty cells divide and multiply, they eventually cause a cancer. 

There are different types of bladder cancer depending on where the tumour is when you are diagnosed:

  • Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer – where the tumour has not spread from the bladder lining into the muscular wall of the bladder. This is the most common form of bladder cancer. It is usually treated by urologists (doctors who specialise in the urinary system). 
  • Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (or ‘invasive bladder cancer’) – where the tumour has spread into the bladder muscle. This is less common but has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body. It is usually treated by oncologists (doctors who specialise in cancer treatment).

Sometimes tiny cancer cells from the tumour in your bladder can spread to other parts of your body such as your lungs, lymph nodes, liver or bones, where they form cancer deposits or ‘metastases’. This is known as metastatic bladder cancer. It is also sometimes called advanced cancer.

Anyone can develop bladder cancer but smoking increases your risk. 

The main symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your pee (haematuria). It is usually painless. You may see streaks of blood or it may turn your pee brown. If you notice blood in your pee – even if it comes and goes – it is important to see a health professional. 

Other symptoms can include:

  • Needing to pee more often 
  • Needing to rush to the toilet to pee
  • A burning sensation when peeing (passing urine)

When bladder cancer spreads to other parts of the body, symptoms can include:

  • Pain in your pelvis
  • Bone pain
  • Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Swelling in your legs

When you are diagnosed, your care will be discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) where different specialists will consider your treatment options. Your doctor will discuss this with you so you can decide what is right for you.

Treatment depends on a range of factors including:

  • The size and position of the cancer
  • How advanced it is (the ‘stage’ of cancer)
  • Your general health 

Treatment options can include one or more of the following:

  • Surgery – this may be before, during or after other treatments
  • Drug therapies such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The general term for these is systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT)
  • Radiotherapy 

Depending on the type and stage of your bladder cancer, you might receive a combination of these treatments.

Our treatments

At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, we provide specialist non-surgical treatment for:

  • Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (invasive bladder cancer), and 
  • Metastatic or advanced bladder cancer 

We work closely with urologists and surgical teams in other hospitals to plan and coordinate your care every step of the way. 

How we treat primary muscle-invasive bladder cancer (invasive bladder cancer)

Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)

SACT is a term used to describe the different drug therapies for cancer. Chemotherapy aims to kill cancer cells directly. Sometimes patients who have bladder cancer that has not spread outside of the bladder receive a course of chemotherapy before or after surgery or radiotherapy. 

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy might be used to try to completely eradicate the cancer in the bladder. We use different types of radiotherapy, depending on the size, location and stage of the cancer. 

Radiotherapy for bladder cancer is delivered from outside the body.

How we treat metastatic or advanced bladder cancer

Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT)

Patients with metastatic bladder cancer may be offered systemic treatment such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy (which stimulates the body’s own immune system to attack the cancer) to try to control the disease and help with symptoms.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can also be used to help with symptoms such as bleeding due to the cancer in the bladder or pain from metastatic cancer deposits elsewhere in the body.

Clinical trials

Research and trials of new cancer treatments are an important part of our work. Your consultant will tell you about any clinical trials that may be suitable for you.

You are also very welcome to ask us about clinical trials during your appointments. We will be happy to answer any questions you have. 

Find out more about clinical trials. 

Treatment locations

We have a multi-site model where we visit hospitals across Cheshire and Merseyside to provide treatment and consultations closer to patients’ homes. 

We provide systemic anti-cancer therapies (e.g. chemotherapy and immunotherapy) for bladder cancer at the following sites:

We provide radiotherapy for bladder cancer in our three specialist sites: 

Clinical trials for bladder cancer are delivered at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool or Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral.

The team consists of clinical oncologists, medical oncologists, advanced nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, radiographers, pharmacy, research practitioners, administrative support and a cancer support worker.  

Our operational management team makes sure the service runs smoothly.

Consultants 

Clinical Oncologists

Dr Joachim Chan
Dr Azman Ibrahim
Dr Ian Lampkin
Dr Isabel Syndikus
Dr Shaun Tolan
Dr Rick Walshaw

Nurses 

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Emma-Jayne Kelly

Radiotherapy to the bladder

Our Cancer Information and Support Centres can provide individualised help and support for patients and families affected by cancer. The team’s main base is in Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool but they also work at our Aintree and Wirral hospitals.

There are also local Macmillan services in other hospitals across our region.

Macmillan patient information leaflets

Immunotherapy 

Avelumab

Atezolizumab

Chemotherapy 

Gemcis

GemCarbo

Mitomycin and fluorouracil (5FU)

External sites that offer extra support include: