The incidence of bladder cancer is related to genetics and environment

There are many causes of bladder cancer, and its onset is a complex, multi-factorial, multi-step pathological process that is affected by both genetic factors and external environmental factors.

Among genetic factors, those with a family history have a significantly higher risk of developing bladder cancer than those without a family history. In addition, the incidence of bladder cancer in patients with hereditary retinoblastoma is also significantly increased.

Among environmental factors, the two most obvious risk factors are smoking and long-term exposure to industrial chemical products. Smoking is currently the most confirmed risk factor for bladder cancer. About 30% to 50% of bladder cancer cases are closely related to smoking, and the risk rate is proportional to the daily smoking volume and the length of smoking history. Long-term exposure to certain carcinogenic chemicals is also a risk factor for bladder cancer. About 20% of bladder cancer cases are related to occupations, such as textiles, dye manufacturing, rubber chemistry, pharmaceutical preparations and pesticide production, paint, leather, aluminum, iron and steel production, etc. The accumulation of diesel engine exhaust can also increase the risk of bladder cancer. But it does not mean that all people who are exposed to these chemical industries will get bladder cancer. To truly find out the cause of bladder cancer, further research and confirmation by the medical community is needed.

In addition, chronic urinary tract infection, residual urine and long-term foreign body stimulation (indwelling catheter, stones) are closely related to the occurrence of muscle-invasive bladder cancer; the use of chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide, abuse of painkillers containing phenacetin (more than 10 years), pelvic radiotherapy, long-term drinking of water with high arsenic content and chlorine disinfected water, coffee, artificial sweeteners and hair dyes may also be the cause of bladder cancer.