What are the causes of bladder cancer?
The most common cause of bladder cancer is cigarette smoking accounting for approximately 50% of all bladder cancer cases. It is estimated that cigarette smoking increases the life time risk of developing bladder cancer by twofold to threefold as compared to non-smokers. The exact reason why cigarette smoking causes bladder cancer is not know but it is believed to be related to carcinogenic acrylamines that get absorbed into the blood stream during smoking and then gets excreted into the urine which comes in contact with the bladder. Other causes of bladder cancer include occupational exposures in rubber factories and dye manufacturers. Chronic infection or protracted bladder irritation (by bladder stones or an indwelling foley catheter) are other risk factors for bladder cancer. Pelvic radiation can also increase the risk for bladder cancer, but radiation-induced bladder cancers typically do not occur until at least 10 years following the radiation therapy.What are the symptoms of bla
