Bladder Cancer Causes

Question: Bladder Cancer Causes

Answer: At this time, researchers aren't sure of what exactly causes bladder cancer. They have, however, identified several risk factors for bladder cancer. A bladder cancer risk factor is something that increases the likelihood of developing bladder cancer. It does not guarantee you will develop the disease.

Risk factors for bladder cancer include:

• second hand smoke exposure
  
• race (caucasians develop the disease more frequently than others)
  
• 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 weight loss products)