Metastatic bladder cancer
As well as metastatic and advanced cancer, doctors also use the terms primary and secondary cancer. A primary cancer is where a cancer starts, for example primary bladder cancer. The cancer can break away from the primary cancer, then settle and grow in another part of the body. This new cancer growth is called secondary cancer. Secondary cancers are also called metastases.
You might have metastatic bladder cancer when you are first diagnosed. Or it may come back some time after you finished treatment. This is called recurrent or relapsed cancer.
Not all bladder cancers will spread. But if it does it's most likely to spread to the structures close to the bladder, such as the , , , , or into the . This is called local spread.
Bladder cancer can also spread to another part of the body. This is secondary cancer or metastasis. The places it's most likely to spread to are your:
lymph nodes in the pelvis and tummy (abdomen)
lungs
liver
bones
Read more about secondary cancer
You might have a few tests to help diagnose metastatic bladder cancer. These can be similar to tests to diagnose bladder cancer, so you might have had some of them before.
When bladder cancer has spread to another part of the body, treatment is not likely to cure it. But it might control the cancer for some time and help to reduce any symptoms.
Possible treatment options include:
or
to the part of the body where the cancer has spread
to remove cancer in the bladder
surgery to unblock the ureters or urethra
drugs to strengthen the bones
joining a
Find out which treatments you might have
Finding out that you can’t be cured is distressing and can be a shock. It’s common to feel uncertain and anxious. It's normal to not be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support is available to you, your family and friends. Some people find it helpful to find out more about their cancer and the treatments they might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to understand:
what your diagnosis means
what is likely to happen
what treatment is available
how treatment can help you
what the side effects of the treatment are
Last reviewed: 27 Aug 2025
Next review due: 27 Aug 2028
Support is available to help you cope with the emotional, practical and physical issues when you have metastatic bladder cancer.
The symptoms of metastatic or advanced bladder cancer depend on where the cancer has spread to. They might include weight loss or bone pain.
Coping with bladder cancer can be difficult. There are things you can do to help, and people who can support you practically and emotionally.
You might have treatment to help with symptoms and to control the cancer. Treatments include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.
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.
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