Various types of bladder cancer
Three types of bladder cancer start in cells in the lining of the bladder. These cancers are called by the type of cells that become malignant (cancerous cells):
1. Transitional cell carcinoma: Cancer that initiates in cells in the innermost tissue layer of the bladder. These cells can stretch when the bladder is full and shrink when it is emptied. Most bladder cancers begin in the transitional cells. Transitional cell carcinoma can be divided into two groups low-grade or high-grade:
_Low-grade transitional cell carcinoma mostly reappears (comes back) after treatment, but rarely spreads into the muscle layer of the bladder or to other parts of the body.
_High-grade transitional cell carcinoma often reappears (comes back) after treatment and usually propagates into the muscle layer of the bladder, to other parts of the body, and lymph nodes. Nearly all deaths from bladder cancer are due to high-grade disease.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that begins in squamous cells (thin, flat cells lining the inside of the bladder). Cancer will form following the long-term infection or soreness.
3. Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that starts in glandular cells that are found in the lining of the bladder. Glandular cells in the bladder make substances such as mucus. This is a very rare type of bladder cancer.