Known risk factors for bladder cancer include:
- Second hand smoke exposure
- Race (Caucasians develop the disease more frequently)
- Gender (males develop the disease more frequently than females
- Family history of bladder cancer
- A diet that is high in saturated fat
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Recurrent urinary stones
- Chronic inflammation of the bladder
- Cigarette smoking (smoking is attributed to more than half of cases of bladder cancer)
- Infection of a parasite called schistosoma haematobium
- External beam radiation
- Use of Aristolochia fangchi ( an herb used frequently in weigh loss products)

