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People who get bladder cancer are more likely than other people to have certain risk factors. A risk facto is something that increases a person's chance of developing the disease.
Most people with known risk factors do not get bladder cancer, ad many people who do get this disease have none of these factors.
Studies have found te following risk factors for bladder cancer:
- Age: The chance of getting bladder cancer goes up as people get older. People under 40 rarely get this disease.
- Tobacco: The use of tobacco is a major risk factor. Cigarette smokers are two or three times more likely than nonsmokers to get bladder cancer. Pipe and cigar smokers are also at increased risk.
- Occupation: Some workers have a higher risk og getting bladder cancer because of carcinogens in the workplace. Workers in te rubber, chemical, and leather industries are at risk. So are hairdressers, machinists, metal workers, printers, painters, textile workers, and truck drivers. Red dye in particular, is a chemical reagent that has potentially been implicated. Also, exposure to coal and gas by-products is another potential occupational hazard.
- Infections: Being infected with certain parasites increases the risk of bladder cancer. These parasites are common in tropical areas but not in the United States.
- Treatment with cyclophosphamide or arsenic: These drugs are used to treat cancer an some other conditions. They raise the risk of bladder cancer.
- Race: Caucasians get bladder cancer twice as often as African Americans and Hispanics. The lowest rates are among Asians.
- Gender: Men are two to three times more likely than women to get bladder cancer.
- Family history: People with family members who have bladder cancer are more likely to get the disease. Researchers are studying changes in certain genes that may increase the risk of bladder cancer.
- Personal history: People who have had bladder cancer have an increased chance of getting the disease again.
- Location: Individuals who live in in urban environments are 2 times more likely to get bladder cancer.
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Diseases Of The Bladder
Bladder Services
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