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The American Cancer Society estimates that in
1996 there will be 52,900 new cases of bladder
cancer and 11,700 deaths from bladder cancer.1
Bladder cancer is the fifth most common neoplasm
and the twelfth leading cause of cancer death.
Males are affected three times more frequently
than women.
Numerous chemicals are suspected bladder cancer
forming agents, however, only cigarette smoking
and occupational exposure to a certain class of
organic chemicals called aromatic amines
(beta-naphthylamines, xenylamine, 4-nirtobiphenyl,
benzidine) are well-established risk factors.2
Bladder cancer due to aromatic amine exposure has
been documented in the textile, leather, rubber,
dye, paint, hairdressing, and organic chemical
industries. A period of 5 to 50 years may follow
the exposure of carcinogenic agents and the
diagnosis of bladder cancer by a physician . The
more one smokes the greater the risk of bladder
cancer; in most cases the risk from smoking
increases the chance of bladder cancer two- to
five-fold. No direct relationship between
secondhand smoke inhalation and bladder cancer has
been established.
The most common clinical presentation is blood in
the urine or hematuria. Usually this is painless
and the blood may be visible to the naked eye
(gross hematuria) or can be seen only under the
microscope (microscopic hematuria). Frequently the
diagnosis of bladder cancer is delayed because
bleeding is intermittent or attributed to other
causes such as urinary tract infection or blood
thinners. However, a substantial proportion of
these patients will have a significant problem
such as kidney stones or tumors, urinary tract
obstruction and bladder cancer. |
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