Causes and Risk-Factor Associated with Bladder Cancer

By: Raj, Diamond

Published On: April 15, 2022

Bladder cancer, also known as bladder carcinoma, usually starts inside the bladder lining. A patient’s bladder cancer treatment primarily depends on how far the cancer tumour has spread to different parts of the body. To avoid the high risk of bladder cancer getting worse by spreading to other areas of the body, it is better to know and understand the causes of bladder cancer as soon as one shows symptoms and/or is diagnosed.

Bladder Cancer Causes

i. Smoking or Tobacco Use: Smoking cigarettes poses a high risk for bladder cancer. People who smoke are four to seven times more vulnerable than nonsmokers to bladder cancer.

ii. Gender: Bladder cancer affects around four times more males than it does women; According to GLOBOCAN 2020, this type of cancer is more prevalent in males than in women, with relative cases and death rates of 9.5 and 3.3 per 100,000 amongst men, nearly 4 times those among women worldwide.

iii. Age Factor: According to a cancer study, bladder cancer affects over 90% of adults over 55.

iv. Race and Ethnic Origin: According to cancer.org, White people are about twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as African Americans and Hispanics. Asian Americans and American Indians have slightly lower rates of bladder cancer. The reasons for these differences are not well understood.

v. Chemical Exposure: Painters, machine operators, hairdressers, truck drivers, and others who work in vocations that expose them to chemicals are more likely to get bladder cancer.

vi. Arsenic Consumption: Arsenic is a naturally occurring chemical present in drinking water, especially untreated well water. The inorganic arsenic compound found in contaminated water is highly toxic. Contaminated water used for drinking purposes or food can cause cancer or skin diseases. If ingested in high quantities, it might raise your chances of getting bladder cancer.

vii. Chronic Bladder Irritation: Chronic bladder inflammation caused by urinary blockage, infections, and indwelling prosthesis has been related as symptoms of bladder cancer.

viii. Other Urinary Tract Cancers: If you've had carcinoma in the kidneys or ureters, including urothelial cells, you are at a higher risk to get bladder cancer.

ix. Family History and Genetic Factors: A greater risk of bladder cancer is linked to a mutation in the retinoblastoma chromosome (RB1), Cowden ailment, and Lynch syndrome.

Coping with Bladder Cancer

Many individuals feel concerned, upset, and agitated when suffering from cancer. Getting medical therapies is demanding for your body and mind. Keep discussing any difficulties or concerns you have with your healthcare staff. Work together to alleviate the consequences of illness and its effects on your everyday life.

Here are some valuable tips for coping with bladder cancer:

Speak with your friends and family.
Contact your hospital staff or counsellor for mental support.
Take care of your mental health.
Cancer may drain you not just physically and mentally, but also financially. If you or your family needs financial support for your bladder cancer treatment, consider an online crowdfunding platform like ImpactGuru.
Be open to social engagements such as meeting friends and relatives that might make you feel better.
Attend a self-help group for cancer.

Even precaution in terms of financial measures is vital, as cancer treatment cost in India is approximately around Rs 5,00,000 lakh on average. Some may take medical insurance to cover future uncertainty, and some may have to rely on savings. Still, 55 million people in India are pushed into poverty in a year because of out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare treatment.

Crowdfunding In India For Bladder Cancer

One way to avoid high debt or bankruptcy is to raise funds with the help of crowdfunding platforms like ImpactGuru. ImpactGuru provides 24*7 personalized assistance, free fundraising mobile app, and has a donor community of 20,00,000 lakh that supports people. The leading medical crowdfunding platform in India has helped raise funds for patients’ medical treatment.

Start Your Fundraiser at 0% fee on ImpactGuru to raise funds for your bladder cancer treatment today.

For more detail, visit ImpactGuru’s help centre or feel free to contact us on 180 089 12903.