Bladder Cancer Causes, Risk Factors & Prevention

Bladder cancer can affect anyone. Major risk factors include smoking, exposure to certain chemicals, and having a family history of the disease.

Learn more about the risk factors for bladder cancer.

Smoking
Tobacco use is the biggest risk factor for developing bladder cancer. This risk increases with the amount and length of time smoking. Cancer-causing chemicals inhaled from burning tobacco enter the bloodstream. The body filters them from the blood through the kidneys and transfers them to the bladder to be removed from the body. The chemical-containing urine can cause damage to the cells in the bladder. Avoiding smoking is the most effective way to lower the risk. People who have quit smoking have a lower risk of bladder cancer compared with active smokers. The risk continues to drop the longer one has stopped smoking.

Chemical Exposure
Frequent exposure to chemicals that are commonly used in certain jobs may increase bladder cancer risk. This includes chemicals called aromatic amines. They are most commonly used in the textile, dye, rubber, leather, paint, and printing industries. Chemical exposure has also been associated with bladder cancer in truck drivers, hairdressers, and machinists. 

Family History of Bladder Cancer
You may be twice as likely to develop bladder cancer if you have a close relative who has had the disease. A close relative includes a parent, sibling, or child. This possibility may be related to genetic factors that make it harder for the body to remove dangerous chemicals after exposure. In addition, an inherited disease linked to colorectal cancer called Lynch syndrome also increases the risk of bladder cancer.

Chronic Bladder Problems and Urinary Tract Infections
Long-term bladder irritation and inflammation, such as that caused by infections and bladder or kidney stones, make it more likely for someone to develop bladder cancer. People with spinal cord injuries are at risk of both chronic infections and kidney stones. A parasitic infection called schistosomiasis increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma. 

Gender
Men are more likely than women to develop bladder cancer. Overall, the chance that men will develop this cancer during their life is about one in 27. For women, the chance is about one in 89.

Prior Chemotherapy or Radiation
Certain chemotherapy drugs increase the long-term risk of developing bladder cancer. Cyclophosphamide is one of these medications. In addition, some studies have suggested that radiation treatment to the pelvis may increase the risk of developing bladder tumors.