Abstract
Based on the latest GLOBOCAN data, bladder cancer accounts for 3% of global cancer diagnoses and is especially prevalent in the developed world. In the United States, bladder cancer is the sixth most incident neoplasm. A total of 90% of bladder cancer diagnoses are made in those 55 years of age and older, and the disease is four times more common in men than women. While the average 5-year survival in the US is 77%, the 5-year survival for those with metastatic disease is a measly 5%. The strongest risk factor for bladder cancer is tobacco smoking, which accounts for 50–65% of all cases. Occupational or environmental toxins likewise greatly contribute to disease burden (accounting for an estimated 20% of all cases), though the precise proportion can be obscured by the fact bladder cancer develops decades after exposure, even if the exposure only lasted several years. Schistosomiasis infection is the common cause of bladder cancer in regions of Africa and the Middle East and is considered the second most onerous tropical pathogen after malaria. With 81% of cases attributable to known risk factors (and only 7% to heritable mutations), bladder cancer is a prime candidate for prevention strategies. Smoking cessation, workplace safety practices, weight loss, exercise and schistosomiasis prevention (via water disinfection and mass drug administration) have all been shown to significantly decrease the risk of bladder cancer, which poses a growing burden around the world.
Highlights
Cancer of the bladder, known as urological cancer or urinary bladder cancer, is the 10th most common cancer in the world, and its incidence is steadily rising worldwide, especially in developed nations [1,2]
A better understanding of the epidemiology and risk factors underlying bladder cancer is crucial for its prevention
Another study from Finland found that exposure to low concentration Arsenic (0.5 μg/L) and tobacco smoke had a synergistic effect in increasing the risk of bladder cancer [39]
Summary
Known as urological cancer or urinary bladder cancer, is the 10th most common cancer in the world, and its incidence is steadily rising worldwide, especially in developed nations [1,2]. The urothelial cells lining the bladder and urinary tract are constantly exposed to environmental, potentially mutagenic agents that are filtered into the urine by the kidneys [4]. 90% of bladder cancer cases, especially those in the developed world, arise from these urothelial cells, mostly in the bladder but on rare occasions in the urinary tract. As many as 7 out of every 10 cases of bladder cancer are detected in early stages, allowing for resection and improved survival. While survival rates have improved with earlier diagnosis, robotic surgical techniques, and the introduction of immunotherapy, bladder cancer remains a significant and rising contributor to cancer burden worldwide, especially in developed nations [1]. A better understanding of the epidemiology and risk factors underlying bladder cancer is crucial for its prevention
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