Bladder cancer is a significant cause of illness and death, mostly in men over age 65. It occurs four times as often in men as in women, and twice as often in white men as it does in black men. Other risk factors include:

• current or past cigarette smoking, and



• work related exposure to chemicals used in rubber, dye, or leather processing.

There is no good evidence to suggest that saccharin or coffee drinking increases the risk of bladder cancer.

Blood in the urine can be an early sign of bladder cancer. While this symptom may be due to other causes, it is important to see your healthcare provider if bleeding occurs. In about a third of patients who have bladder cancer, there is also increased frequency of, and pain with, urination.

When blood is seen in the urine by the patient, or under the microscope, and there is no sign of infection, doctors may order another test called a cystoscopy. This is done with a cystoscope, a slender scope with a light that is inserted through your urethra, the tube that leads to your bladder. The bladder walls are visualized through the scope in this way.

The most common treatment for bladder cancer is surgery. It can be used alone or combined with other treatments. When the cancer has moved through the wall of the bladder, chemotherapy or radiation may be used prior to surgery in order to improve the results.

The 5-year survival rate for bladder cancer, when detected early, is over 90 percent. If you work in a high risk profession such as the tire, dye, or leather industries there may be an on-site screening program available. If you are over 65, smoke, or have been exposed to carcinogenic chemicals on the job, ask your doctor for advice on how to lower your risk of developing bladder cancer. If blood appears in your urine, see your healthcare provider.