BLADDER CANCER

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that can increase your chance of developing cancer. For example, smoking is a risk factor for many types of cancers, including bladder cancer.

It is important to remember that if you have one or more risk factors that does not mean that you will definitely get bladder cancer. Many people who have one or more of the risk factors never get bladder cancer and other people who have none of the risk factors do develop bladder cancer.

The risk factors for bladder cancer, in addition to smoking, include certain industrial and occupational hazards, such as exposure to chemicals used in the dye, printing or aluminum industry, as well as chemicals used in the manufacturing of rubber, paint, leather, hair dyes, petroleum, certain metals and certain textiles and their dyes. Predisposing factors may also include age, sex and race. Bladder cancer is more common in the elderly, in males, and is more common in Caucasians than in African Americans or Asians.