We are no longer accepting Actos cases.

Bladder Cancer Types

Bladder cancer can be either superficial (cancer that is confined to the lining of the organ) or invasive (cancer that spreads through the lining and into the muscle wall of the bladder). Invasive bladder cancer can potentially spread to closer organs and lymph nodes.

There are three types of bladder cancer named for the type of cells that become malignant:

• Transitional cell carcinoma (Urothelial carcicoma): This is the most common type of bladder cancer. It is caused when cancer begins in the transitional cells, which form the innermost lining of the bladder wall. Many urothelial cell carcinomas are classified as superficial.
  
  
• Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cells are flat, thin cells that normally form in the bladder when irritation, inflammation or infection has existed in the bladder for a long period of time. Squamous cell carcicoma originates from these cells. Most squamous cells carcinomas are invasive.
  
  
• Adenocarcinoma: This type of cancer originates in glandular (secretory) cells which produce and release specialized fluids. Nearly all adenocarcinomas are invasive.