Causes

Not all causes of bladder cancer are fully understood. However, some common risk factors are known, such as:

age and race: more common in older adults and in white men than in women
exposure to chemical substances: workers in industries involving chemical compounds (such as aromatic amines, azo dyes, benzene, benzidine, among others) are at higher risk of developing bladder cancer
smoking: smoking can triple the risk of developing bladder cancer
chronic bladder irritation: frequent urinary tract infections or prolonged use of urinary catheters may increase the risk
radiation and chemotherapy: previous treatments with radiation therapy or certain chemotherapy drugs may increase the risk

Diagnosis

The main methods used to diagnose bladder cancer include:

urine test: a healthcare professional analyzes the urine for the presence of cancer cells and/or blood (which may indicate the need for further investigation)
imaging tests: imaging test: exams that allow visualization of the inside of the body, such as computed tomography (which uses X-rays), magnetic resonance imaging (which uses a magnetic field), intravenous pyelogram (which uses X-rays with injected contrast), or cystoscopy (the “gold standard” procedure that allows visualization of the inside of the bladder and urethra and enables diagnostic biopsy)

The ideal treatment is determined after diagnosis by healthcare professionals and depends on the stage of the disease. The most common are:

surgery: it can be performed in three ways—removal of the tumor through the urethra (transurethral resection); partial removal of the bladder (partial cystectomy); or complete removal of the bladder (radical cystectomy), with the construction of a new organ to store urine (neobladder)
chemotherapy: use of anticancer drugs that can be administered orally, intravenously, or directly into the bladder
radiotherapy: use of radiation to destroy cancer cells or prevent them from multiplying
immunotherapy: stimulates the body’s defense system (immune system) to attack cancer cells. Indicated in specific cases

Some of these treatments are performed before surgery and others afterward. Only a specialist in the field can determine the best treatment approach.

Einstein’s Oncology and Hematology Department offers comprehensive care from diagnosis to treatment. Learn more.

The risk of developing bladder cancer can be reduced through some general health practices, such as:

not smoking: smoking damages healthy cells in the body, making it easier for genetic mutations to occur
avoiding secondhand smoke: inhaling smoke from another person is almost as harmful as smoking
avoiding exposure to carcinogens in the workplace: occupations associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer include metalworkers, painters, rubber industry workers, leather workers, textile workers, miners, cement workers, transport operators, excavation machine operators, and jobs involving the manufacture of carpets, dyes, plastics, and industrial chemicals
maintaining a healthy diet: including plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet may help reduce the risk
drinking plenty of water: increasing total fluid intake may help dilute carcinogenic substances and reduce their contact time with the urinary system