3 Ways to Prevent Bladder Cancer

There is no certain way in preventing bladder cancer. Some risk factors, such as gender, age, race, and family history cannot be controlled.

But, there are things you can do that could help to lower your risk.

What Is Bladder Cancer?

The bladder is a hollow, flexible pouch that is located in your pelvis. Its main job is to store urine before it exits your body.

Our kidneys make pee and the tubes called ureters carry the pee from your kidneys into your bladder. When you use the bathroom, the muscles that is located in your bladder push the urine out through a tube called the urethra.

You get bladder cancer when the bladder cells become abnormal and grow out of control. Over time, a tumor forms. This can spread to nearby lymph nodes and other organs. In severe cases, this can spread to distant parts of your body, including your lungs, bones, or liver.

Top 3 Tips for Preventing Bladder Cancer:

1. Drink Plenty of Fluids

There’s evidence that drinking plenty of fluids, mostly water, might lower a person’s risk of bladder cancer.

Think of your bladder as a temporary storage unit. This is where the toxins are stored that have been filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Though I know it is not pleasant to think about, there is a lot of unpleasant things that can build up in the bladder. Prolonged exposure of the inner lining of the bladder to these toxins may cause cancer.

Therefore, it is essential to dilute the toxins in urine by drinking lots of water. Also, it is important not to hold urine for too long in the bladder. If you feel the need to “go,” then go to the bathroom as soon as the urge presents itself. Keeping urine in your bladder is not good for your body.

Urinating and hydrating regularly are fantastic bladder cancer prevention tips that anyone can accomplish. But, the question is, what’s enough? While there are many various opinions on this topic, and the number of ounces depends on your lifestyle, on average, the daily intake of about 11.5 cups for women and 15.5 cups for men is adequate.

2. Don’t Smoke

As per the American Cancer Society, people who smoke are at least 3x more likely to develop bladder cancer as compared to those who don’t smoke. A 2011 study by the National Institutes of Health reported that half of all bladder cancer cases are found in people who smoke.

But, what about popular alternatives to traditional tobacco cigarettes , including e-cigarettes or vaping? Heavily advertised and readily available today, many people believe these devices are safer alternatives to cigarette smoking. While some studies suggested e-cigarettes are a “safer” alternative as compared to traditional cigarettes, this does not mean that they’re safe.

A study in 2018 reported that some of the same carcinogens were identified in both e-cigarette liquids and cigarettes. The important message here is: Quitting smoking is the best thing you can control in reducing your bladder cancer risk. And if you have not ever smoked, don’t start.

3. Eat Plenty of Vegetables and Fruits

Some studies have suggested that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits might help in protecting against bladder cancer, but, other studies have not found this. Still, eating a healthy diet has been reported to have many benefits, including lowering the risk of some other types of cancer.

A study in 2016 in the journal Investigative and Clinical Urology indicated that while there are no valid links between the consumption of certain foods and the develoment of bladder cancer, there is evidence to suggest that a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and low in processed meats is beneficial and may provide protection against bladder cancer.

Sources:
Healthline
Health.USNews
WEBMD
Cancer.Org