Researchers at hospitals and medical centers all across the country are studying bladder cancer. They are trying to learn what causes the disease and how to prevent it.

At this time, the causes of bladder cancer are not fully understood. It is clear, however, that this disease is not contagious; no one can "catch" cancer from another person.

Some researchers study patterns of cancer in the population. They look for factors that are more common in people who get bladder cancer than in people who don't get this disease. Studying such patterns helps researchers identify risk factors for bladder cancer. However, most people with these risk factors do not get cancer, and many people who do get bladder cancer have none of the known risk factors.

Researchers have found that white people in the United States get bladder cancer twice as often as African-Americans, and men are affected about three times as often as women. People with family members who have bladder cancer may be more likely to get the disease as well. Most bladder cancers occur after the age of 55, but the disease can also develop in younger people.

Known and possible risk factors for bladder cancer include:

• Smoking. This is a major risk factor. Cigarette smokers develop bladder cancer two to three times more often than do nonsmokers. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of bladder cancer, lung cancer, and several other types of cancer, as well as a number of other diseases.
  
• Occupational risk. Workers in some occupations are at higher risk of getting bladder cancer because of exposure to carcinogens in the workplace. Increased risk is seen in people in the rubber, chemical, and leather industries, as well as in hairdressers, machinists, metal workers, printers, painters, textile workers, and truck drivers.

People who think they may be at risk for developing bladder cancer should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.