Bladder Cancer

Risks

While limiting your exposure to risk factors for bladder cancer is not always possible, some known risk factors can often be controlled or even eliminated. Those risk factors include:

Tobacco Use: Cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco collect in urine, where they may concentrate and damage the bladder lining. Over time, this damage can lead to bladder cancer. You should avoid or end tobacco use to alleviate this risk.

Industrial Chemicals: Repeated exposure to chemicals used by makers of dyes, rubber, leather, textiles and paint products may increase the risk of developing bladder cancer, even years after exposure has ended. Follow the safety instructions for handling chemicals to help avoid exposure and decrease this risk.

Chronic Bladder Inflammation: Chronic or repeated urinary infections or inflammations may increase the risk for some bladder cancers. Although urinary infection or inflammation alone is not believed to cause cancer, seek medical attention immediately if you detect blood in your urine.