Increase text size: A A A

Type in the condition you need,
or visit Advanced Search

Print this page

Email this to a friend

Comment on this page

Save to my Health Library

Johns Hopkins Health Alert

Cancer Prevention -- Protecting Your Bladder

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts | Healthy Living After 50 |

Reduce Your Risk for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is common, it is a major public health concern, and it is strongly linked to cigarette smoking.

Bladder cancer isn’t nearly as well known as lung cancer, but it should be: Bladder cancer is common, it is a major public health concern, and it is strongly linked to cigarette smoking.

Most people diagnosed with bladder cancer are aged 60 or older. Carcinogens in the urine increase the risk of bladder cancer. Cigarette smoking is strongly implicated; other risk factors for bladder cancer include chronic bladder infections and treatment with cyclophosphamide (a chemotherapy medication). People regularly exposed to hair dyes in their occupation (such as hair dressers) are at increased risk for bladder cancer, but no association has been proved for people who dye their hair.

You can take these steps to lower your risk of bladder cancer:

  • Don’t smoke. Smokers and former smokers (the risk never declines to completely normal) are more than twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as people who have never smoked. It is thought that cancer-causing compounds in tobacco smoke are absorbed into the blood and eventually collect in the urine, where they damage the cells lining the bladder. However, giving up cigarettes does not seem to produce as dramatic a drop in risk for bladder cancer as for lung cancer and heart disease.

  • Drink enough fluid. Adequate intake of water and other fluids promotes urination and help to flush carcinogens from the bladder. The American Cancer Society recommends drinking several glasses of water or other nonalcoholic beverages a day.

  • Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables. A diet that routinely includes several weekly servings of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables appears to be protective.

  • Limit exposure to workplace chemicals. Chemicals used in the making of dyes, rubber, leather, textiles, printing materials, and paint products have been implicated in bladder cancer.

  • Treat bladder infections. People with chronic or frequent infections have higher rates of bladder cancer than those who are not prone to such infections.

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts | Healthy Living After 50 |

Reduce Your Risk for Bladder Cancer

Posted in Healthy Living on August 31, 2006
Reviewed March 2010

Notify Me

Would you like us to inform you when we post new Healthy Living Health Alerts?

Your email address:

Comments

Post a Comment

Health Alerts registered users may post comments and share experiences here at their own discretion. We regret that questions on individual health concerns to the Johns Hopkins editors cannot be answered in this space.

The views expressed here do not constitute medical advice, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins Medicine or MediZine LLC, which has no responsibility for any comments posted on this site.




Post a Comment


Already a subscriber?
Login

Email:

Password:


Forgot your password?

New to Johns Hopkins Health Alerts?
Register to submit your comments.

Your Email Address:

(example: yourname@domain.com)

 

(800) 829-0422

Registered Users Log-in:

Email:

Password:

Remember me
Forgot Password?

Become a Registered User!
It's fast and FREE!
The Benefits of Being A Registered User

Health Topic Pages

Arthritis
Back Pain & Osteoporosis
Cancer
Caregivers | Caregiving
Colon Cancer
Complementary Medicine
Depression & Anxiety
Diabetes
Digestive Health
Enlarged Prostate
Exercise and Fitness
Healthy Living
Heart Health
Hypertension & Stroke
Lung Disorders
Memory
Men's Health
Nutrition
Prescription Drugs
Prostate Disorders
Sexual Health
Vision
Weight Control
Women's Health
Health Alert Special Report




Johns Hopkins’ Bestsellers

Healthy Living

Our Featured Titles:

Johns Hopkins Heart Attack Prevention White Paper
  • 2010 Heart Attack Prevention White Paper
    While heart attack remains the leading cause of death in America, Johns Hopkins specialists have identified a number of steps that can dramatically lower your risk. The Heart Attack Prevention White Paper contains potentially lifesaving strategies for the millions of people with high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), weight control issues, a sedentary lifestyle, and other known risk factors for heart attack. 88 pages.
    Read more or order the INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD EDITION
    Read more or order the PRINT EDITION



  • © 2010 MediZine LLC. All rights reserved.
    Contact Us
    customerservice@johnshopkinshealthalerts.com