Who's at Risk for Bladder Cancer?

Over 80,000 adults in America are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for successful treatment, but the cancer doesn’t always have symptoms until later stages. This makes understanding your risk factors a must. 

The board-certified providers at Urological Associates are committed to helping men and women in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area maintain their bladder health. Our team members have extensive experience diagnosing bladder cancer and providing or recommending the best treatment based on the cancer’s stage. 

To help you stay on top of your bladder health, take a moment to learn more about bladder cancer and whether you’re at risk.

What do I need to understand about bladder cancer?

You probably don’t think much about your bladder unless you need to use the restroom, but taking a moment to learn about bladder cancer could save your life since early detection is key for effective treatment. 

Located above and behind your pubic bone, your bladder is about the size of a pear. It’s lined with a layer of muscle tissue that can stretch and squeeze to hold and release urine. 

When the cells lining the inside of your bladder mutate, bladder cancer develops. As these abnormal cells overtake the normal cells and destroy bladder tissue, the cancer progresses. If not treated, these cells can spread to other parts of your body. 

Who’s at risk of developing bladder cancer?

The exact reason the conditions that lead to bladder cancer develop in some people still isn’t well understood. However, scientists have discovered certain risk factors that increase your odds of getting bladder cancer.

Some of the risk factors are lifestyle related, meaning you can make changes to lower your risk while others aren't within your control. People with the highest risk of developing bladder cancer have one or more of either type of these risk factors, including: 

• Smoking: Smoking is the greatest known link to bladder cancer, with smokers being at least three times to develop bladder cancer than nonsmokers.
• Not drinking enough water: Drinking lots of water lowers your risk of bladder cancer.
• Chemical exposure: Some chemicals common in certain industries increase your risk of bladder cancer, including working in rubber, leather, textiles, or paint. Others who may be at risk include machinists, truck drivers, hairdressers, and printers/print makers.
• Arsenic: Exposure to arsenic in drinking water, usually outside of the United States, is linked to a higher risk of bladder cancer.
• Certain supplements/medicines: Supplements containing aristolochic acid and using pioglitazone for diabetes have both been linked to bladder cancer.
• Race/ethnicity: Being white increases your risk of bladder cancer two-fold.
• Age: The majority (90%) of people with bladder cancer are over 55.
• Gender: Men are four times more likely to get bladder cancer than women.
• History of bladder issues: Having a history of chronic bladder infections, chronic irritation, or previous history of bladder or urinary tract cancer increases your risk.
• Family history/genetics: A family history of bladder cancer increases your risk as do certain genetic syndromes and birth defects.
• Certain cancer treatments: Some chemotherapy drugs irritate your bladder, increasing your risk of cancer; radiation to the pelvis also increases your risk.

If you have one or more risk factors for bladder cancer, be sure to see a urologist. At Urological Associates, our providers can order tests that help provide an early diagnosis, which makes treatment more effective. 

To learn more about how you can lower your risk of bladder cancer or to set up a bladder cancer screening, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with a provider at Urological Associates in Charlottesville, Virginia.