Bladder Cancer Prevention

Causes and Preventions of Bladder Cancer 

Role of Urine: 

The bladder stores urine until is person is ready to let it out. The urine is the liquid sent from the kidneys after the kidneys have pulled wastes and toxins out of the blood. Bladder cancer usually starts in the lining of the bladder, which is in contact with any toxins in the urine. Logically, it is best not to store the urine too long. It is also logical to drink a lot of water to dilute and flush out toxins. 

Known risk factors for bladder cancer: 

Smoking (leads to toxins in blood) 

Radiation of the pelvis (we are constantly bombarded with cosmic rays, which can damage DNA, causing mutations)

Certain chemicals (could damage DNA), 

Chronic irritation (from bladder infections, kidney and bladder stones, and with the use of a catheter)

Some parasitic infections (schistosomiasis, in Africa and the Middle East). 

Chemicals known to be risk factors: 

Arsenic (present in rice in some parts of Asia) 

Dyes (some hair dyes, tattoos, lipstick) 

Diesel fumes 

Industrial chemicals used in the manufacture of: Rubber, Leather, Textiles, Paints, Print 

Preventions: 

 • Drink a lot of water and don’t hold it in a long time. 

 • Eat foods with antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, to counter radiation-produced toxic chemicals and other environmental toxins. Soy isoflavones (which are antioxidants) may be protective. 

 • Avoid foods with carcinogens, such as smoked foods (lox), processed meats (salami, pastrami, corned beef), charred food (barbecued or grilled), food preserved with nitrates and nitrites. 

Inheritance: 

Cancer is caused by an accumulation of DNA mutations that eventually produce cells no longer able to control their growth. Radiation and certain toxins cause these DNA mutations. Some people may have a reduced ability to detoxify chemicals and may pass this trait on. Some people may have a reduced ability to repair DNA damage, which could be inherited. Nevertheless, bladder cancer is rarely inherited, although some families do seem to have a prevalence of it. 

Chemicals: 

Aromatic amines: benzidine, beta-naphthylamine, imidazolinone herbicides 

Heterocyclic amines 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene 

Herb: aristolochic acid 

Nitrates, nitrites 

Genetics: 

Gene products that break down toxins: GST, NAT 

Gene products that repair DNA: BRCA1 and 2, many others 

Other genes found mutated in bladder cancer: TERT, KDM6A, p53, TSC1