Urothelial (bladder) cancer begins in the cells lining the organs (bladder, ureters, renal pelvis, and urethra) in the urinary system.
When the cancer spreads to nearby areas, it is called locally advanced cancer. If it has spread to distant parts of the body, like the lymph nodes or other organs, it is called metastatic cancer.
Bladder cancer that has spread or cannot be removed with surgery is known as advanced bladder cancer.
How cancer spreads through the bladder
How is advanced bladder cancer treated?
There are different treatment options for people who have been diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer depending on the stage of the disease and how they respond to treatment. You and your doctor will work together to decide which treatment is best for you. Treatments might include:
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC): A type of targeted therapy that works by delivering cell-killing medicine directly to cancer cells. However, it can also affect normal cells and cause side effects
Chemotherapy: Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. This can affect cancer cells and normal cells. Platinum-based chemotherapy, such as cisplatin or carboplatin, in combination with gemcitabine is a treatment option for advanced bladder cancer
Clinical trial: A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study
Immunotherapy: Treatment that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer
Radiation therapy: Treatment that uses energy in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors
Surgery: A procedure to remove a part of the body where cancer cells are present
Please see full Prescribing Information/Patient Information for
more information, including risk of Serious Side Effects.