Treatment
Metastatic bladder cancer means the cancer has spread to another part of the body such as the , or bones. Doctors also call this advanced cancer.
Treatment is not likely to cure it. But it might control it for some time and help to reduce any .
This page is about how your doctor decides which treatment you need for metastatic bladder cancer. We have a separate section about treating muscle invasive bladder cancer which hasn’t spread to other parts of the body.
Find out about the treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer
A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. They are called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
The treatment you have for advanced bladder cancer depends on:
how much your cancer has spread
your symptoms
where it has spread to
what treatment you may have had already
your general health and level of fitness
Your doctor will discuss your treatment, its aims and the possible side effects with you.
The aim of treatment for most people with metastatic cancer is to control it, relieve symptoms and maintain your quality of life.
It can be difficult to decide which treatment to try or whether to have treatment at all. You need to think about how the treatment could affect your quality of life. This includes the possible side effects as well as the travelling to and from the hospital. It's important to understand what the treatment can achieve.
There might be a counsellor or specialist nurse at the hospital who you can chat to. You may also want to talk things over with a close relative or friend.
After you have had time to think about the options, you and your doctor make the final decision together. It can be helpful to talk over difficult decisions with someone who is outside your circle of family and friends.
Some bladder cancer organisations can give you information about treatment. They can also tell you about cancer support groups. This is where you can talk to other people who have been through similar experiences.
Find a bladder cancer support organisation
You can also use Cancer Chat. This is our free online discussion forum for people affected by cancer. It is a safe space to talk to other people in similar situations, and find information and support.
For metastatic bladder cancer you might be able to have one or more of the following treatments:
or
to the part of the body where the cancer has spread
to remove cancer in the bladder
surgery to unblock the or
joining a
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse about your treatment choices. They can explain why some treatments are an option for you, and others aren't.
Read more about the treatments for metastatic bladder cancer
Your doctor might ask if you’d like to take part in a clinical trial. Doctors and researchers do trials to make existing treatments better and develop new treatments.
See how you can take part in a clinical trial
You may decide not to have cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. But you can still have medicines to help control symptoms, such as sickness or pain.
Your doctor or nurse will explain what could help you. You can also ask them to refer you to a local symptom control team to give you support at home.
Last reviewed: 03 Sept 2025
Next review due: 03 Sept 2028
Chemotherapy can help to control metastatic bladder cancer for some time. You might have a combination of drugs.
You might have radiotherapy to control your symptoms. Radiotherapy uses high energy waves similar to x-rays to kill cancer cells.
You might have surgery to relieve symptoms caused by metastatic bladder cancer. There are different types of operation.
Symptoms can be difficult to cope with. Your doctors and nurses will support you and give you treatments to help relieve the symptoms.
Coping with bladder cancer can be difficult. There are things you can do to help, and people who can support you practically and emotionally.
Bladder cancer is cancer that starts in the lining of the bladder. The bladder is part of the urinary system, which filters waste products out of your blood and makes urine. Find out about the symptoms, how you are diagnosed, treatment, living with bladder cancer and follow up.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
Search our clinical trials database for all cancer trials and studies recruiting in the UK.
Connect with other people affected by cancer and share your experiences.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
