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Reducing Your Risk of Bladder Cancer

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of developing cancer. Modifying the following risk factors may help you reduce your risk of bladder cancer.

Stop Smoking

As many as 60% of all cases of bladder cancer may be associated with smoking, including smoking cigars. If you are smoker, you should do everything within your power to stop. You are risking bladder cancer, as well as many other kinds of serious diseases. Contact your healthcare provider to see if you can use an alternative nicotine delivery system (nicotine patch, nicotine gum), hypnotherapy, or group support to help you make this important but difficult lifestyle change.

For more information on quitting smoking, click here .

Avoid Exposure to Bladder Cancer-causing Chemicals

You have a higher-than-normal risk of developing bladder cancer if your profession is any of the following:

Painter
Worker in the dye, leather, paper, rubber, or metal industries
Barber or beautician
Plumber
Dry-cleaner

If you must work in these industries, research how to best protect yourself from exposure to the chemicals you’ll be around. Check with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the Environmental Protection Agency about any available protective guidelines.

Drink More Water

Recent research suggests that drinking about 11 cups of water each day can help you decrease your chance of developing bladder cancer; this amount of water dilutes the urine and, consequently, dilutes the concentration of any dangerous chemicals present that might cause cancer. Unless you have some other health condition that might make this much water a health problem for you, this is a simple way to decrease your bladder cancer risk.

References

Campell’s Urology. 8th ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Science; 2002: 2732-2765.

Cecil Textbook of Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2002: 633-634.

Conn’s Current Therapy. 54th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2002: 720-721.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for bladder cancer. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. Available at http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/2ndcps/bladdcan.pdf . Accessed December 2002.

What you need to know about bladder cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/bladder . Accessed December 2002.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Mohei Abouzied, MD
Review Date: 09/2012 -
Update Date: 00/92/2012 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.