About bladder cancer
What should people know about cancer of the bladder?
The bladder is part of the body's urinary system. The bladder stores urine before it leaves the body.
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men and the ninth most common cancer among women in the United States. In New York State, about 3,700 men and 1,300 women get cancer of the bladder each year. About 600 men and 300 women die from this disease each year in New York State. It is estimated that one in 25 men and one in 85 women will develop bladder cancer sometime during their life.
In recent years, the incidence of bladder cancer has leveled off and mortality from the disease is decreasing slightly. Improvements in care have led to better survival for people with bladder cancer.
Who gets bladder cancer?
Cancer of the bladder is more common in older people. More than 70% of people newly diagnosed with bladder cancer in New York State are age 65 and over. Bladder cancer is more common among men than among women. It also occurs more frequently in whites than in Blacks. Reoccurrence of bladder cancer is also common. As a result, the prevalence of bladder cancer is high.
What causes cancer of the bladder?
At this time, we do not know exactly what causes cancer of the bladder. We do know that smoking is the greatest risk factor for getting bladder cancer. People who smoke have more than twice the risk of getting bladder cancer than non-smokers. Researchers believe that smoking is responsible for between 30% and 50% of bladder cancers.
Occupation is the second greatest risk factor for bladder cancer. Studies show that workers in the dye, rubber, textile, leather or chemical industries have a higher risk of getting bladder cancer. It is believed that 20% of bladder cancers are associated with exposures in the workplace.
What can I do to reduce my chances of getting bladder cancer?
The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of bladder cancer is not smoke. If you do smoke, quit. The risk of bladder cancer among people who quit smoking eventually returns to normal. If you work in a high risk job, be aware of health and safety rules and follow them.
