Epidemiology, etiology and prevention of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is the seventh most frequent cancer on male population and eleventh within the whole inhabitants. Differences in incidence and mortality between countries and regions exist. Those differences depend on variables including epidemiological data, social and cultural features and economics amongst the several populations that are exposed to different risk factors and treatment approaches. Smoking is the strongest risk factor for bladder cancer, representing approximately 50% of the cases. Its alternative, the electronic cigarette does not seem to provide a decrease in risk of bladder cancer. Employment exposure to aromatic amines, aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons and chlorate hydrocarbons, are still important risk factors. Water consumption with high levels of arsenic has also shown an increased risk of bladder cancer. Fast acetylators or genetic predisposition would be tentative risk factors. Some medical treatments with chemotherapy o radiation therapy increase bladder cancer risk. Identifying all these factors allows for progress in the field of prevention and early detection. The main objective is to decrease incidence and mortality related to bladder cancer.