What Increases Your Risk

The main risk factors for bladder cancer include:

• Smoking. Smokers are twice as likely to get bladder cancer as nonsmokers.¹
• Chemical exposure. Bladder cancer has been linked to chemicals called aromatic amines. These chemicals are found in many products, including dyes, paints, solvents, inks, and the dust from leather. This risk may also depend on how much and how often a person was exposed to these chemicals.
• Being older. Your risk goes up as you get older. Most people who get bladder cancer are close to their 70s.
• Being a white male. Men are 4 times more likely to get bladder cancer than women. And white men are twice as likely to get it as African-American men.¹
• A diet that is high in nitrates or rich in meat and fatty foods.
• Schistosomiasis, which is an infection caused by a parasite. It's sometimes found in developing countries and rarely occurs in North America.

When To Call a Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions about calling when you have problems, new symptoms, or symptoms that get worse.

Call your doctor if you:

• Have blood in your urine.
• Feel pain when you urinate.
• Are urinating small amounts frequently.
• Have back or flank pain.

Watchful waiting

If you are concerned about your symptoms or about your risk for bladder cancer, make an appointment with your doctor. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have symptoms that do not go away.

Who to see

Health professionals who can evaluate your symptoms and your risk for bladder cancer include:

• General practitioners.
• Family medicine doctors.
• Nurse practitioners.
• Physician assistants.
• Internists.
• Urologists.

Doctors who can manage your cancer treatment include:

• Urologists.
• Medical oncologists.
• Radiation oncologists.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.