CAUSES And SYMPTOMS

A risk factor is anything that can increase your chance of developing
cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Having one or
more risk factors does not mean that you will definitely get bladder
cancer. Many people who have one or more of the risk factors never
get bladder cancer and some people who have none of the risk factors
do develop bladder cancer. Risk factors are only a guide
to what may increase risk.

Bladder Cancer is the 4th most common cancer in men. It usually takes
a long time to develop and it is most common in older people. The
risk factors and causes can be as follows:
A.     Smoking cigarettes definitely increases the risk of
     bladder cancer. The chemicals in the smoke get into
     the bloodstream. They are then filtered out of the
     blood by the kidneys and end up in the urine. When
     the urine is stored in the bladder, these chemicals
     are in contact with the bladder lining. Chemicals
     called arylamines in cigarette smoke may be the cause
     of the increased bladder cancer risk in smokers. A
     group of chemicals called arylamines are known to
     cause bladder cancer. Arylamines that increase
     risk of bladder cancer include

       â€¢ Aniline dyes
       â€¢ 2-Naphthylamine
       â€¢ 4-Aminobiphenyl
       â€¢ Xenylamine
       â€¢ Benzidine
       â€¢ O-toluidine
       â€¢ Polycyclic hydrocarbons

B.     Some other jobs have been linked to an increased risk
    of bladder cancer. These include

       â€¢ Bus and taxi drivers
       â€¢ Metal casters, machine setters and operators
       â€¢ Leather workers
       â€¢ Blacksmiths
       â€¢ Hairdressers
       â€¢ Mechanics
       â€¢ Miners
       â€¢ Painters

C.     When chlorine is used to disinfect water it can break
    down into chemicals called trihalomethanes (THMs).
    It can be the cause of Bladder cancer

D.     Treatment with radiotherapy to the pelvic area for
    other cancers and treatment with the chemotherapy
    drugs cyclophosphamide and cisplatin also increases
    the risk.

E.     Overgrowth of the prostate have increase in their
    risk of bladder cancer.

F.     People who have diabetes have been found to have
    an increase in their risk of developing bladder Cancer.

G.     Parasitic infection is the main cause of bladder
    cancer. A parasite called bilharzia or schistosomiasis
    is widespread in many countries
    and increases the risk of squamous cell bladder cancer.

H.     In a few families, bladder cancer is associated
    with an inherited faulty gene. But this is very rare.
    Overall, you are statistically more at risk
    if you have a first degree relative with bladder
    cancer (a parent, child, sister or brother).

Blood in pee is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Doctors call
blood in pee 'haematuria' (pronounced heem-at-you-ree-ah). The blood may
not be there all the time. It can come and go. So if you ever see blood
in your pee, you should go to doctor.There can be other symptoms of
bladder cancer. These are

    Frequency, which means needing to pass urine
    very often Urgency, which means needing to pass
    urine very suddenly     Pain when passing urine

If you have these symptoms you will not necessarily have cancer. You are
more likely to have a urine infection, particularly if you do not have
blood in your urine. If you are a man the symptoms could be caused by
an enlarged prostate gland. But you should always tell your doctor
straight away if you have these symptoms. If you have an infection, then
it can usually be cleared up with antibiotics very quickly. If it is
cancer, then the sooner it is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat.

                                                                                              To be continued