what is the cause of bladder cancer

Symptoms

Researchers do not know exactly what causes most bladder cancers. But they have found some risk factors (see Bladder Cancer Risk Factors ) and are starting to understand how they cause cells in the bladder to become cancer. Certain changes in the DNA inside normal bladder cells can make them grow abnormally and form cancers.

Causes

 · Causes of bladder cancer are often genetic, and risk factors include smoking, chemical exposure, race, age and other variables. Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when cells in the bladder become abnormal and grow out of control.

Prevention

 · Smoking is a leading cause of cancer, including bladder cancer. In fact, smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes is thought to contribute to around half of all bladder cancer cases. This is because toxic chemicals from tobacco smoke pass into the bloodstream from the lungs. The blood then travels to the kidneys to be filtered.

Complications

Learn about the risk factors for bladder cancer and what you might be able to do to help lower your risk. … From basic information about cancer and its causes to in-depth information on specific cancer types – including risk factors, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment options – you’ll find it here. Explore Cancer A-Z; Breast …

What are the chances of getting bladder cancer?

The main cause of bladder cancer, or most common risk factor in the United States, is smoking. The second group of exposure risk factors include exposures to carcinogens or a history of radiation therapy for another cancer (for example, prostate cancer), or chemotherapy agents, mainly cyclophosphamide.

How dangerous is bladder cancer?

 · Bladder cancer refers to the uncontrolled cell growth that begins in the bladder. This happens when an abnormal change (a mutation) in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) causes the DNA to malfunction. The DNA is the one that instructs the cells when to divide, grow, or die.

What are the most common symptoms of bladder cancer?

 · Bladder cancer is caused when deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the cells of the bladder mutate or change, disabling the functions that control cell growth. This results in uncontrolled, abnormal growth and multiplication of cells in the bladder. The exact cause of the mutations is unknown.

Who is at risk for bladder cancer?

What causes bladder cancer? Smoking is the by far the largest preventable cause of bladder cancer. If you haven’t given up yet, do it now! Even at this stage, it can massively help your recovery. In fact, bladder cancer is the only type of cancer that gets less aggressive if …

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 · Bladder cancer is among the top 10 most common cancer types in the world, with approximately 573,000 new cases annually. Men are statistically more likely to develop bladder cancer than women, and …

How do you get cancer in the bladder?

While the exact cause of bladder cancer is not known, certain risk factors are linked to the disease, including tobacco smoking and exposure to certain chemicals and gases. Also, people with a family history of bladder cancer have a high risk of developing the disease.

How can bladder cancer be prevented?

Can Bladder Cancer Be Prevented?Don’t smoke. Smoking is thought to cause about half of all bladder cancers. … Limit exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace. Workers in industries that use certain organic chemicals have a higher risk of bladder cancer. … Drink plenty of liquids. … Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

What are the warning signs of bladder cancer?

Bladder Cancer: Symptoms and SignsBlood or blood clots in the urine.Pain or burning sensation during urination.Frequent urination.Feeling the need to urinate many times throughout the night.Feeling the need to urinate, but not being able to pass urine.Lower back pain on 1 side of the body.

What are the two greatest risk factors for bladder cancer?

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.

Can low water cause bladder cancer?

Dehydration. People who do not drink enough water on a daily basis may have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer. Researchers think that staying hydrated causes people to urinate more often, which might rid the body of any harmful substances that could potentially harm the bladder.

What foods help bladder cancer?

Intake of a diet with foods containing dietary carotenoids such as beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha/beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, Vitamin E, Selenium, yogurt, dried fruits, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale, and fruits may reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

What is usually the first symptom of bladder cancer?

In most cases, blood in the urine (called hematuria) is the first sign of bladder cancer. There may be enough blood to change the color of the urine to orange, pink, or, less often, dark red.

Can bladder cancer be cured?

The prognosis depends on the following: The stage of the cancer (whether it is superficial or invasive bladder cancer, and whether it has spread to other places in the body). Bladder cancer in the early stages can often be cured.

What are the symptoms of stage 1 bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer sometimes causes changes in bladder habits like having to urinate more often or feeling an urgent need to urinate without producing urine. Another symptom of bladder cancer is pain or burning during urination without evidence of a urinary tract infection.

What chemicals can cause bladder cancer?

Chemicals called aromatic amines, such as benzidine and beta-naphthylamine, which are sometimes used in the dye industry, can cause bladder cancer. Workers in other industries that use certain organic chemicals also may have a higher risk of bladder cancer.

Does coffee cause bladder cancer?

In summary, findings from this large meta-analysis of prospective studies suggest that coffee consumption was not significantly associated with long-term risk of bladder cancer. Such a null association was similar for men and women, and was confirmed in never smokers.

Who typically gets bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer occurs mainly in older people. About 9 out of 10 people with this cancer are over the age of 55. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 73. Overall, the chance men will develop this cancer during their life is about 1 in 27.

Does coffee cause cancer of the bladder?

In summary, findings from this large meta-analysis of prospective studies suggest that coffee consumption was not significantly associated with long-term risk of bladder cancer. Such a null association was similar for men and women, and was confirmed in never smokers.

Can bladder cancer be cured?

The prognosis depends on the following: The stage of the cancer (whether it is superficial or invasive bladder cancer, and whether it has spread to other places in the body). Bladder cancer in the early stages can often be cured.

Which of the following is usually the first symptom of bladder cancer?

For most people, the first symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, also called hematuria. Sometimes the blood is visible, prompting the patient to visit a doctor.

How does bladder cancer develop?

Bladder cancer develops when cells in the bladder begin to grow abnormally, forming a tumor in the bladder. Bladder cancer begins when cells in the bladder develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains instructions that tell the cell what to do.

Where does bladder cancer start?

Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer that begins in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the inside of your bladder. Urothelial cells are also found in your kidneys and the tubes (ureters) …

Where is the bladder located?

Your kidneys, located in the rear portion of your upper abdomen, produce urine by filtering waste and fluid from your blood. Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer that begins in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine. Bladder cancer most often begins in …

Where is urothelial cancer found?

Urothelial cells are also found in your kidneys and the tubes (ureters) that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Urothelial cancer can happen in the kidneys and ureters, too, but it’s much more common in the bladder. Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when the cancer is highly treatable.

Can bladder cancer come back?

But even early-stage bladder cancers can come back after successful treatment. For this reason, people with bladder cancer typically need follow-up tests for years after treatment to look for bladder cancer that recurs.

How do you know if you have bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include: Blood in urine (hematuria), which may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test. Frequent urination. Painful urination. Back pain.

What is the most common type of bladder cancer?

Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States. Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with chronic irritation of the bladder — for instance, from an infection or from long-term use of a urinary catheter. Squamous cell bladder cancer is rare in the United States.

What causes bladder cancer?

Causes of bladder cancer are often genetic, and risk factors include smoking, chemical exposure, race, age and other variables. Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when cells in the bladder become abnormal and grow out of control. Types of bladder cancers include:

What is the most common type of bladder cancer?

Types of bladder cancers include: Urothelial carcinoma , also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC): the most common type of bladder cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma: only about 1% to 2% of bladder cancers are squamous cell …

What causes a swollen bladder?

Chronic bladder irritation and infections. Urinary infections ( UTIs ), kidney and bladder stones, bladder catheters left in place a long time, and other causes of chronic bladder irritation. Schistosomiasis ( bilharziasis ), parasitic worm infection that can get into the bladder.

What is the procedure for removing the bladder?

Surgical removal of all or part of the bladder (radical or partial cystectomy): for invasive bladder cancer. Reconstructive surgery after radical cystectomy: if the entire bladder is removed, patients need another way to store urine and pass it out of the body.

How long do you live with bladder cancer?

Life expectancy for bladder cancer is often expressed in 5-year survival rates, that is, how many people will be alive 5 years after diagnosis. Bladder cancer 5-year survival rates: In situ (cancer is still confined to the cells in which it initially started and has not spread into any nearby tissue): 96%.

What does it mean when you have blood in your urine?

Blood in the urine ( hematuria) Usually the first sign of bladder cancer . Urine may appear orange, pink, or, less often, dark red. Changes in bladder habits. Bladder irritation. Urinary frequency. Pain or burning during urination. Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when the bladder isn’t full.

Why does my urine turn red?

Bladder irritation. Urinary frequency. Pain or burning during urination. Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when the bladder isn’t full. Difficulty urinating or having a weak urine stream .

Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Learn more about the risk factors for bladder cancer.

Prevention

There’s no way to completely prevent cancer. But there are things you can do that might help lower your risk. Learn more.

Can you prevent bladder cancer?

There is no sure way to prevent bladder cancer. But you can take certain measures to lower your risk of developing it. These include the following:

Top What Is the Main Cause of Bladder Cancer? Related Articles

Bladder cancer occurs when cancerous cells, often from the lining of the bladder, begin to multiply. Find more information about bladder cancer, the stages of bladder cancer, and available treatment options.