Bladder Cancer Treatment

At the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute, we emphasize patient education and encourage patient participation in the decision-making process. Our multidisciplinary team assesses all the information — tumor stage/grade, pathology results, imaging and, when available, tumor genetic sequencing — and teaches patients about their diagnosis, and the risks and benefits of various treatment options. We then provide expert guidance to help patients arrive at care decisions that meet their specific needs.

75%

Early Stage

Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Also known as nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, this type is considered “early stage” and represents about 70 to 75 percent of all bladder cancer cases. Nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer means the cancer is found in the lining of the bladder and has not invaded the bladder’s muscle wall or spread outside the bladder.

See nonmuscle-invasive approaches

25%

Advanced Stage

Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Also called advanced bladder cancer, this type represents about 25 to 30 percent of all bladder cancer cases. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is cancer that has invaded the bladder’s muscle wall. Some invasive bladder cancers have also metastasized, or spread, to surrounding organs or other parts of the body.

See muscle-invasive approaches

Clinical Trials

Our patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials at Johns Hopkins that may offer promise by way of new drug combinations, treatment protocols or surgical techniques.

Treatments on the Horizion

With the creation of the grant-making Greenberg Cancer Institute and a renewed commitment to the disease among institutions around the world, we're starting to see tangible progress.